Folate-producing bifidobacteria: metabolism, genetics, and relevance.

ABSTRACT: Folate (the general term for all bioactive forms of vitamin B₉) plays a crucial role in the evolutionary highly conserved one-carbon (1C) metabolism, a network including central reactions such as DNA and protein synthesis and methylation of macromolecules. Folate delivers 1C units, such as methyl and formyl, between reactants. Plants, algae, fungi, and many bacteria can naturally produce folate, whereas animals, including humans, must obtain folate from external sources. For humans, folate deficiency is, however, a widespread problem. Bifidobacteria constitute an important component of human and many animal microbiomes, providing various health advantages to the host, such as producing folate. This review focuses on bifidobacteria and folate metabolism and the current knowledge

SUBMITTER: D'Aimmo MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10917623 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature