Chapter 23, Problem 15RE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The structure of folic acid and its role as a carrier for one carbon group are to be represented.

Concept introduction:

Folic acid is an organic compound commonly known as a form of vitamin. Folate is a vitamin B. It occurs naturally in foods, such as citrus fruits, green vegetables, beans, whereas folic acid is synthetic folate, usually incorporated to fortified foods. Certain biochemical reactions are known as one-carbon metabolism as all of them are involved in the transfer of one-carbon groups.

The enzymes and coenzymes are involved in amino acid/nucleotide metabolism, however, importance lies on the fact that volatile one-carbon groups must be attached while processing.