Dihydrofolate Reductase Like Protein 1 (DHFRL1)

, Belongs to the dihydrofolate reductase family. Dihydrofolate reductase, or DHFR, is an enzyme that reduces dihydrofolic acid to tetrahydrofolic acid, using NADPH as electron donor, which can be converted to the kinds of tetrahydrofolate cofactors used in 1-carbon transfer chemistry

DHFRL1 that was previously thought to be irrelevant. DHFRL1 is almost identical to an important gene known as DHFR and therefore, these two forms may carry out similar functions. DHFR performs an important role in the cell by ensuring there is an adequate supply of the raw materials necessary for cells to duplicate and grow. For this reason, drugs used for cancer treatment often switch off DHFR to stop tumour growth. This proposal will investigate whether DHFRL1 can carry out the same function as DHFR and will have relevance for understanding human disease.