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Nitrous oxide provokes changes in folylpenta- and hexaglutamates
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
The Journal of Nutrition
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Methionine deficiency alters folate levels in rat livers, making them suitable for in vivo studies. Nitrous oxide exposure further changes folate metabolism, impacting tetrahydrofolate levels and histidine oxidation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Folate metabolism is crucial for cellular processes.
- Dietary factors, such as methionine, can influence folate distribution.
- Tetrahydrofolates (H4PteGlun) exist in various polyglutamate forms (penta- and hexaglutamates).
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize liver folate composition in rats under different dietary conditions.
- To investigate the impact of nitrous oxide (N2O) on folate metabolism.
- To correlate changes in folate levels with metabolic processes like histidine oxidation.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and quantification of liver folates from control and methionine-deficient rats.
- Analysis of folate polyglutamate forms (pentaglutamates and hexaglutamates).
- Administration of N2O and subsequent analysis of folate changes and histidine oxidation.
Main Results:
- Methionine deficiency led to a more balanced ratio of folate pentaglutamates and hexaglutamates.
- N2O exposure significantly altered folate composition, decreasing tetrahydrofolate (H4PteGlu5 and H4PteGlu6) levels.
- The observed depletion of tetrahydrofolates by N2O correlated with the inhibition of histidine oxidation.
Conclusions:
- Dietary methionine influences the distribution of folate polyglutamate forms.
- N2O disrupts folate metabolism, particularly affecting tetrahydrofolate levels.
- Tetrahydrofolate depletion is a likely mechanism for N2O-induced inhibition of histidine oxidation.