Reaction: 5-methyltetrahydrofolate + NAD(P)+ = 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate + NAD(P)H + H+
For diagram of reaction, click here or click here
Other name(s): MTHFR (gene name)
Systematic name: 5-methyltetrahydrofolate:NAD(P)+ oxidoreductase
Comments: A flavoprotein (FAD). The enzyme catalyses the reversible conversion of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, playing an important role in folate metabolism by regulating the distribution of one-carbon moieties between cellular methylation reactions and nucleic acid synthesis. This enzyme, characterized from Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, is unique among similar characterized eukaryotic enzymes in that it lacks the C-terminal allosteric regulatory domain (allowing it to catalyse a reversible reaction) and uses NADH and NADPH with equal efficiency under physiological conditions. cf. EC 1.5.1.53, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (NADPH); EC 1.5.1.54, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (NADH); and EC 1.5.7.1, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (ferredoxin).
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 71822-25-8
References:
1. Vickers, T.J., Orsomando, G., de la Garza, R.D., Scott, D.A., Kang, S.O., Hanson, A.D. and Beverley, S.M. Biochemical and genetic analysis of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in Leishmania metabolism and virulence. J. Biol. Chem. 281 (2006) 38150-38158. [PMID: 17032644]