Folic acid epigenetic mechanisms
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1
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Pharmacology, Greece
Folic acid (also known as vitamin B9 or folacin and folate), as well as pteroyl-L-glutamic acid and pteroyl-L-glutamate, are forms of the water-soluble vitamin B9. Folic acid is itself not biologically active, but its biological importance is due to tetrahydrofolate and other derivatives after its conversion to dihydrofolic acid in the liver. Folate, which is naturally present in common foods such as peas, oranges, broccoli, and whole-wheat products, is essential for life-sustaining processes of DNA synthesis, replication, and repair. Folate levels have been associated with birth defects, cardiovascular disease, and many other important healthcare issues. Folate has been into focus of intense interest because of an inverse association between folate levels and risk of several malignancies and because of its potential ability to modulate DNA methylation. This work is presenting the interaction between diet and gene expression. One of the best-known examples of a gene-nutrient interaction is the MTHFR gene that encodes the enzyme methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase. MTHFR regulates folic acid and maintains blood levels of homocysteine. The DNA and histone methyltransferases use S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as methyl donor. SAM is formed from methyl groups derived from methyl-tetrahydrofolate choline, or methionine. During critical periods in development, dietary methyl-group intake can alter DNA and histone methylation, which results in lifelong changes in gene expression.
Keywords:
Folic Acid,
Folate,
S-Adenosylmethionine,
Sam,
DNA Methylation
Conference:
8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1 Oct - 5 Oct, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Poster
Topic:
Nutrigenomics
Citation:
Papadakis
G and
Papaioannidou
P
(2010). Folic acid epigenetic mechanisms.
Front. Pharmacol.
Conference Abstract:
8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fphar.2010.60.00174
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Received:
28 Oct 2010;
Published Online:
04 Nov 2010.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Paraskevi Papaioannidou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Pharmacology, Thessaloniki, Greece, ppap@auth.gr