Physiology of Folates

In metabolism folates are mainly  involved in transferring methyl and formyl groups and fulfil important functions in metabolism of amino acids and nucleic acids. In this regard 5-methylH₄folate transfers ist methyl group in a vitamin B12-dependent reaction to homocyteine to regenerate the amino acid methionine. 5,10-methyleneH₄folate is essential to methylate the RNA base uracil to thymine and 10-formylH₄folate transfers its formyl group to acceptors during synthesis of purine bases.