Nutriepigenetic regulation by folate–homocysteine–methionine axis: a review

Although normally folic acid is given during pregnancy, presumably to prevent neural tube defects, the mechanisms of this protection are unknown. More importantly it is unclear whether folic acid has other function during development. It is known that folic acid re-methylates homocysteine (Hcy) to m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular and cellular biochemistry 2014-02, Vol.387 (1-2), p.55-61
Main Authors: Bhargava, Seema, Tyagi, S. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cardiology
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Embryology
Epigenesis, Genetic
Epigenetics
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - genetics
Folic acid
Folic Acid - administration & dosage
Folic Acid - physiology
Folic Acid Deficiency - genetics
GABA
Gene-Environment Interaction
Homocysteine
Homocysteine - physiology
Humans
Life Sciences
Medical Biochemistry
Methionine - physiology
Methylation
Muscles
Nervous system
Neural Tube Defects - genetics
Nitric oxide
Oncology
Phosphates
Pregnancy
Progeria - genetics
Vitamin B
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Summary:Although normally folic acid is given during pregnancy, presumably to prevent neural tube defects, the mechanisms of this protection are unknown. More importantly it is unclear whether folic acid has other function during development. It is known that folic acid re-methylates homocysteine (Hcy) to methionine by methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase-dependent pathways. Folic acid also generates high-energy phosphates, behaves as an antioxidant and improves nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial NO synthase. Interestingly, during epigenetic modification, methylation of DNA/RNA generate homocysteine unequivocally. The enhanced overexpression of methyl transferase lead to increased yield of Hcy. The accumulation of Hcy causes vascular dysfunction, reduces perfusion in the muscles thereby causing musculopathy. Another interesting fact is that children with severe hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy) have skeletal deformities, and do not live past teenage. HHcy is also associated with the progeria syndrome. Epilepsy is primarily caused by inhibition of gamma-amino-butyric-acid (GABA) receptor, an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the neuronal synapse. Folate deficiency leads to HHcy which then competes with GABA for binding on the GABA receptors. With so many genetic and clinical manifestations associated with folate deficiency, we propose that folate deficiency induces epigenetic alterations in the genes and thereby results in disease.
ISSN:0300-8177
1573-4919
DOI:10.1007/s11010-013-1869-2