Relation between some folate-dependent metabolic pathways and dietary folate content in chicks.
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 greater than 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.
Whitehead
C C
CC
AFRC Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Roslin, Midlothian.
Rennie
J S
JS
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006639:Histidine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
D006639:Histidine; D005492:Folic Acid