Effects of folate deficiency on some hepatic enzymes of folate metabolism in the oestrogen-treated immature female chick (domestic fowl).

The major peak of radioactivity from liver extracts appears to behave as a folate polyglutamate on Sephadex G-15, but its behaviour on DEAE cellulose is not consistent with a folate polyglutamate. The second, smaller peak behaved as a monoglutamate on both Sephadex G-15 and DEAE-cellulose, but could not be matched with any authentic folate monoglutamate. The present results fail to provide evidence for the formation of folate polyglutamates from orally administered 5-['*C]methyltetrahydrofolate. Both radioactive components from liver remain unidentified. In addition, the results demonstrate the necessity of using more than one chromatographic technique. Chromatography on a single column of either Sephadex G-15 or DEAE-cellulose gives ambiguous results.