title: An isotope-dilution, GC-MS assay for formate and its application to human and animal metabolism.
abstract: Formate, a crucial component of one-carbon metabolism, is increasingly recognized as an important intermediate in production and transport of one-carbon units. Unlike tetrahydrofolate-linked intermediates, it is not restricted to the intracellular milieu so that circulating levels of formate can provide insight into cellular events. We report a novel isotope-dilution, GC-MS assay employing derivatization by 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl bromide for the determination of formate in biological samples. This assay is robust and sensitive; it may be applied to the measurement of formate in serum, plasma and urine. We demonstrate how this method may be applied by providing the first characterization of formate levels in a human population; formate levels were higher in males than in females. We also show how this procedure may be applied for the measurement of in vivo kinetics of endogenous formate production in experimental animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.
authors.forename: Simon G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lamarre
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacMillan
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Randell
authors.forename: Theerawat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pongnopparat
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brosnan
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brosnan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000737:chemistry; D005561:Formates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D005466:Fluorocarbons
chemical_list: D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D005561:Formates; C030544:formic acid; C025063:pentafluorobenzyl bromide; D005466:Fluorocarbons