The Hydrolysis of Pteroylpolyglutamates in the Small Intestine

Abstract

Jägerstad, M. & Westesson. A.-K, The hydrolysis of pteroylpolyglutamates in the small intestine. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 639–643.

The hydrolysis of synthetic pteroyloligoglutamates, given orally, has been studied in rat intestines. By bioassay with L. casei and S. faecalis the degree of hydrolysis has been estimated in the gastric and intestinal juices. Folic acid concentrations assayed with the both microorganisms were identical throughout the gastrointestinal tract. For pteroyl-tri-, tetra- and pentaglutamate, the hydrolysis in the stomach and the first part of the duodenum was incomplete. Thereafter the hydrolysis was complete. Pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase activity has been found throughout the whole small intestine with the highest activity in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, but activity was also found in the area between the stomach and the pancreatic duct. The enzyme is proposed to be secreted via the pancreatic juice. No pteroylpolyglutamate-hydrolysing activity was found in the stomach.

Key-words::

• Hydrolysis
• pteroylglutamate hydrolase
• small intestine
• rat