Folic Acid (redirected from folic acid antagonist)

folic acid: see coenzyme; vitamin.

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folic acid

 or folate

Organic compound essential to animal growth and health and needed by bacteria as a growth factor. Part of the vitamin B complex, folic acid is necessary for synthesis of nucleic acids and formation of the heme component of hemoglobin in red blood cells. To prevent neural tube defects in babies, it should ideally be taken by women starting at least a month before conception. Dietary folate sources include leafy and dark green vegetables, citrus fruits, cereals, beans, poultry, and egg yolks, but free folic acid is available only in supplements. Low intake leads to folic acid deficiency anemia.

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folic acid [′fō·lik ′as·əd]

(biochemistry)

C₁₉H₁₉N₇O₆A yellow, crystalline vitamin of the B complex; it is slightly soluble in water, usually occurs in conjugates containing glutamic acid residues, and is found especially in plant leaves and vertebrate livers. Also known as pteroylglutamic acid (PGA).

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Folic Acid 

(vitamin B_c, pteroylglutamic acid), a vitamin of the B group. One folic-acid molecule is composed of a pteridine nucleus and para-aminobenzoic and glutamic-acid residues. The pale yellow hygroscopic crystals, which decompose at 250°C, are poorly soluble in water (0.001 percent). Folic acid is widely distributed in nature and is present in all animal, plant, and bacterial cells. It is synthesized by most microorganisms and lower and higher plants. It is not formed in the tissues of man, mammals, and birds and therefore should be obtained through food; however, it may be synthesized by microflora in the intestines.

Folic acid stimulates hematogenic functions in the organism. In animal and plant tissues it takes part—in reduced form, that is, in the form of tetrahydrofolic acid and its derivatives—in the synthesis of purine and pyrimidine bases, certain amino acids (se-rine, methionine, histidine), choline, and other compounds. The adult daily folic-acid requirement is 0.2–0.4 mg. The primary sources of the vitamin are leafy vegetables, liver, and yeast; strawberries are also a rich source.

Folic acid is effective in the treatment of certain forms of anemia and other diseases. It is prepared by the condensation of 2, 4, 5-triamino-6-hydroxy pirimidine, 1,1, 3-trichloroacetone, and para-aminobenzoyl glutamic acid. Aminopterin and methotrexate, which have a structure similar to that of folic acid, are used in the treatment of certain types of malignant tumors. These compounds are antimetabolites of folic acid and have a suppressive effect on cell growth and development.

REFERENCES

Andreeva, N. A. Vitaminy gruppy folievoi kisloty. Moscow, 1963.
Berezovskii, V. M. Khimiia vitaminov, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1973.
Vitaminy. Edited by M. I. Smirnov. Moscow, 1974.
Blakley, R. L. The Biochemistry of Folic Acid and Related Pteridines. Amsterdam-London, 1969

E. M. BIRINBERG