HOMOCYCTEINE AND ITS METABOLISM
Abstract
Many people have never heard of homocycteine, yet elevated levels of this naturally occurring amino acid can actually increase risk of some serious helth conditions. Homocysteine is an amino acid. Amino acids are chemicals in your blood that help create proteins. Vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and vitamin B9 (folate) break down homocysteine to generate other chemicals your body needs. Many people have never heard of homocycteine, yet elevated levels of this naturally occurring amino acid can actually increase risk of some serious helth conditions.
Keywords
Homocysteine is a sulfur amino acid whose metabolism stands at the intersection of two pathways: remethylation to methionine, which requires folate and vitamin B12 (or betaine in an alternative reaction); and transsulfuration to cystathionine, which requires pyridoxal-5'-phosphate.
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