STUDIES ON THE HYDROLYSIS AND ABSORPTION OF FOLIC ACID POLYGLUTAMATES IN TROPICAL SPRUE.

Abstract

A method was found for the isolation of folic acid polyglutamate from yeast extract. Utilizing this substrate a reproducible assay for 'conjugase' (gamma glutamyl carboxypeptidase) has been established. The pH optima, buffer specificity and gastro intestinal distribution have been shown. Differentiation from a related enzyme, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase has been shown. Discovery that this enzyme (conjugase) is inhibited by dihydoxy bile acids is included, providing a possible explanation for bacterial production of folic acid deficiency. Effective inhibition by BSP of this enzyme has been shown in vitro and vivo. Absorption of folic acid polyglutamate in two patients with tropical sprue was shown to be ineffective and this was corrected by tetracycline but not folic acid. The observation of 'brown serum' in the anemic phase of the disease was studied and explained. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0690228

Entities

People

  • Leslie H. Bernstein
  • Sidney Gutstein
  • Simeon Pollack
  • Simon V. Weiner

Organizations

  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bile
  • Biological Pigments
  • Deficiencies
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Hydrolysis
  • Inhibition
  • Nutrition Disorders
  • Observation
  • Production
  • Substrates
  • Tropical Sprue

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Immunology
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry