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Relation between some folate-dependent metabolic pathways and dietary folate content in chicks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Colin C. Whitehead  and
J. Sarah Rennie
Colin C. Whitehead
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
J. Sarah Rennie
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
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Abstract

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Responses of several folate-metabolizing pathways to dietary folic acid were studied in 2-week-old chicks. Oxidation of a histidine load to carbon dioxide was impaired in folate-deficient chicks. There was a curvilinear relation between oxidation and dietary folate, and maximum oxidation occurred with 2 mg supplemental folic acid/kg. Hepatic activities of glutamic acid formiminotransferase (EC 2.1.2.5) and glycine N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.20) were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) by dietary folic acid. The activity of dihydrofolate reductase (EC 1.5.1.3) in erythrocytes was elevated in folate-deficient chicks. These studies show that the activities of two folate-dependent pathways can be used as biochemical criteria of folate status in chicks.

Keywords

Dietary folateFolate-dependent metabolic pathwaysChicken
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , July 1989 , pp. 203 - 209
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1989

References

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