Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase 2 Like Protein (MTHFD2L)

A new mitochondrial CH2-THF dehydrogenase isozyme, encoded by the MTHFD2L gene, has now been identified. The recombinant protein exhibits robust NADP+-dependent CH2-THF dehydrogenase activity when expressed in yeast. The enzyme is localized to mitochondria when expressed in CHO cells, and behaves as a peripheral membrane protein, tightly associated with the matrix side of the mitochondrial inner membrane.

The MTHFD2L gene is subject to alternative splicing, and is expressed in adult tissues in humans and rodents. This CH2-THF dehydrogenase isozyme thus fills the remaining gap in the pathway from CH2-THF to formate in adult mammalian mitochondria. MTHFD2l encodes a mitochondrial methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase isozyme expressed in adult tissues.