Total serum homocysteine as an indicator of vitamin B12 and folate status

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Am. J. Clin. Pathol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/90.4.446· OSTI ID:6605853

Chu, R C; Hall, C A

Presented is a modification of an assay for total serum homocysteine (Hcy) in which the Hcy plus radioactive adenosine is converted enzymatically to labeled S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy). The modifications included a commerical source for the AdoHcy hydrolase, adenosine labeled with either /sup 14/C or /sup 3/H, and separation of the AdoHcy by thin layer chromatography. The assay was sensitive to 25 pmol. Hcy levels in sera from 18 controls ranged from 6.9 to 12.1 mumol/L with a mean of 9.1 and a SD of 1.5 mumol/L. The total serum Hcy was increased in vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. The level was high in congenital defects of vitamin B12 metabolism, blocking the methylation of Hcy regardless of the serum vitamin B12 levels, but was normal in the absence of tissue deficiency even if the serum vitamin B12 levels were low. The procedure has been found practical in two years of use and requires only 0.1 mL of serum.

• Research Organization: Veterans Administration Medical Center, Albany, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6605853
• Journal Information: Am. J. Clin. Pathol.; (United States), Vol. 90:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FOLIC ACID
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
HOMOCYSTEINE
RADIOENZYMATIC ASSAY
VITAMIN B-12
ADENOSINE
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
HYDROLASES
THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
AMINO ACIDS
AROMATICS
AZAARENES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DRUGS
ENZYMES
HEMATINICS
HEMATOLOGIC AGENTS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PTERIDINES
RIBOSIDES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
VITAMIN B GROUP
VITAMINS
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques