Tetrahydrofolate (THF) is a central cofactor for one-carbon transfer reactions in all living organisms. In this study, we analyzed the expression of dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase-dihydropteroate synthase (HPPK-DHPS) in pea (Pisum sativum) organs during development, and so the capacity to synthesize dihydropteroate, an intermediate in the de novo THF biosynthetic pathway. During seedling development, all of the examined organs/tissues contain THF coenzymes, collectively termed folate, and express the HPPK-DHPS enzyme. This suggests that each organ/tissue is autonomous for the synthesis of THF. During germination, folate accumulates in cotyledons and embryos, but high amounts of HPPK-DHPS are only observed in embryos. During organ differentiation, folate is synthesized preferentially in highly dividing tissues and in photosynthetic leaves. This is associated with high levels of the HPPK-DHPS mRNA and protein, and a pool of folate 3-to 5-fold higher than in the rest of the plant. In germinating embryos and in meristematic tissues, the high capacity to synthesize and accumulate folate correlates with the general resumption of cell metabolism and the high requirement for nucleotide synthesis, major cellular processes involving folate coenzymes. The particular status of folate synthesis in leaves is related to light. Thus, when illuminated, etiolated leaves gradually accumulate the HPPK-DHPS enzyme and folate. This suggests that folate synthesis plays an important role in the transition from heterotrophic to photoautotrophic growth. Analysis of the intracellular distribution of folate in green and etiolated leaves indicates that the coenzymes accumulate mainly in the cytosol, where they can supply the high demand for methyl groups.The synthesis of numerous biological compounds and the regulation of many metabolic processes require the addition or removal of one-carbon units (C1 metabolism). Tetrahydrofolate (THF) coenzymes mediate these C1 transfer reactions that are involved in several major cellular processes, including the synthesis of purines and thymidylate, amino acid metabolism, pantothenate synthesis, mitochondrial and chloroplastic protein biogenesis, and Met synthesis (Fig. 1). Met is the direct precursor of S-adenosyl-Met (Ado-Met), which in turn is the source of methyl units for the synthesis of a myriad of molecules such as choline, chlorophyll, or lignin (for reviews, see Cossins, 2000;Scott et al., 2000;Hanson and Roje, 2001). In plants, THF is also involved in the photorespiratory cycle, a specific pathway that occurs at very high rates in green leaves from C3 plants. Photorespiration relies on two THF-dependent enzymes present in the matrix space of leaf mitochondria, the Gly decarboxylase complex (GDC) and Ser hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT; for reviews, see Oliver, 1994;Douce et al., 2001).THF is composed of three distinct parts, namely a pterin ring, a p-aminobenzoic acid, and a poly-Glu chain of variable length (1-8 residues). Its function is to bind, transport, and donate C1 units that differ i...