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MTHFR Enzyme

Meaning

The MTHFR Enzyme, or Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase, is a vital enzyme that catalyzes a non-reversible reaction within the one-carbon metabolism pathway, converting 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate into 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). This 5-MTHF is the primary, biologically active form of folate necessary for the methylation cycle, a ubiquitous process essential for DNA integrity and neurotransmitter synthesis. Common genetic polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene can impair this enzyme’s function, thereby impacting overall metabolic efficiency and hormonal balance.