Bacterial Folic Acid Metabolism Enzymes

Bacterial folic acid metabolism enzymes are a group of proteins responsible for the synthesis, transformation, and utilization of folate (vitamin B9) and its derivatives in bacteria. Folate is essential for one-carbon transfer reactions involved in DNA synthesis, repair, methylation, and amino acid metabolism. Unlike mammals that obtain folate from their diet, many bacteria synthesize it de novo through a multi-step enzymatic pathway. Key enzymes include Dihydropteroate Synthase (DHPS), Dihydrofolate Reductase (DHFR), Thymidylate Synthase (TYMS), Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase/Methenyltetrahydrofolate Cyclohydrolase (FolD) and Formyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase (Fhs). Several enzymes are targets for antimicrobial drugs, such as sulfonamides targeting DHPS and diaminopyrimidines like trimethoprim targeting DHFR.

Other names

Bacterial folate synthesis enzymesFolic acid pathway enzymes (bacteria)

Inhibition of folic acid synthesis