Folate metabolism has been studied in 7 Gy whole body y-irradiated mice. Considerable changes in the formyl and methyl tetrahydrofolate derivatives were observed in the liver at various stages after irradiation. Methyltetrahydrofolate polyglutamate cofactors were reduced to a considerable extent in the irradiated group. Significant levels of oxidized folates such as pteroyl mono-, di-, and tetra- glutamyl forms were found only in the irradiated liver indicative of oxidative changes. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, the enzyme synthesizing methyltetrahydrofolates was impaired 35-40% in irradiated animals possibly leading to an impairment in methyltetrahydrofolate synthesis. Folylpolyglutamate hydrolase which hydrolyzes polyglutamylfolates to simpler forms, showed an immediate spurt in the activity but returned to normal values, 48-72 h after irradiation. An increased lysosomal membrane damage as assessed by higher free-amino acid pool was observed in irradiated mice.
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