Folate metabolism mitochondrial

Mechanism and pharmacokinetics Atovaquone inhibits mitochondrial electron transport and probably folate metabolism. Used orally, it is poorly absorbed and should be given with food to maximize bioavailability. Most of the drug is eliminated in the feces in unchanged form. 

Folate metabolism is not limited to the cytoplasmic compartment. Most of the folate in tissues is found in the mitochondrion and cytosol (Horne et al. 1997). Individual folate-dependent pathways are compartmentalized within organelles. The cytoplasmic and mitochondrial compartments each possess a parallel array of enzymes catalysing the interconversion of folate coenzymes that carry one-carbon units. The mitochondrial folate metabolism favours incorporation of one-carbon groups from serine and release of formate, while the cytoplasmic metabolism favours incorporation of one-carbon units from formate with purine and thymidine synthesis and homocysteine remethylation. 

The cytoplasmic, mitochondrial, and chloroplast compartments are all involved in aspects of folate coenzyme metabolism in eukaryotic organisms. 

Lin, B.-F., Huang, R.-F. S., and Shane, B. (1993). Regulation of folate and one carbon metabolism in mammalian cells. 3. Role of mitochondrial folylpolyglutamate synthetase. J. Biol. Chem. 268,21674-21679. 

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