Synthesis and Regulation of Folate Coenzymes During early Germination in Vigna radiata

Abstract

Folate profiles and DNA synthesis were studied during the early germinating period in Vigna radiata. Total folate andmethyl folate forms were increased from 4 to 32 hours during germination period studied. Formyl folates, involved in purine synthesis, were raised 30-fold after 26 hours of incubation followed by DNA synthesis, indicatmg that folate synthesis precedes nucleotide synthesis channelising the one-carbon moieties into nucleotide precursors. This is also supported by the observation of folate mediated one-carbon pool incorporation of 2-'4C-Histidine into nucleic acid during this period. The two folate enzymes, folylpolyglutamate hydrolase which was greatly lowered and folylpolyglutamate synthetase which was significantly elevated, might playa crucial role regulating a balanced supply of the required folate precursors during the early germination period of Vigna radiata.

Keywords

• folic acid
• polyglutamylfolates
• folylpolyglutamate hydrolase
• folylpolyglutamate synthetase
• germination
• vigna radiata