Conversion of 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid to 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid is unimpaired in folate-adequate persons homozygous for the C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) catalyzes the synthesis of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-CH3-H-4 folic acid), the methyl donor for the formation of methionine from homocysteine. A common C677T transition in the MTHFR gene results in a variant with a lower specific activity and a greater sensitivity to heat than the normal enzyme, as measured in vitro. This study was undertaken to determine the capacity of homozygotes for the MTHFR C677T transition to convert 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-HCO-H-4 folic acid) to 5-CH3-H-4 folic acid, a process that requires the action of MTHFR. Six subjects homozygous for the C677T transition (T/T) and 6 subjects with wild-type MTHFR (C/C) were given a 5-mg oral dose of (6R,S)-6-HCO-H-4 folic acid. Plasma and urine were analyzed for 5-CH3-H-4 folic acid concentrations using affinity/HPLC coupled with fluorescence or UV detection. The mean areas under the curves created by the rise and fall of plasma 5-CH3-H-4 folio acid after the oral dose did not differ between the two genotypes, 424.5 +/- 140.3 (T/T) vs. 424.1 +/- 202.4 h.nmol/l (C/C). There also was no significant difference in the mean cumulative 7-h urinary excretion of 5-CH3-H-4 folic acid between the T/T (2.5 +/- 1.4 mu mol) and C/C (1.9 +/- 1.0 mu mol) genotypes. Under the conditions employed, the conversion of oral 5-HCO-H-4 folic acid to 5-CH3-H-4 folic acid is not impaired in persons with the T/T MTHFR genotype. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed.