Abstract
Methylation of genomic cytosines is one of the best characterized epigenetic mechanisms, and investigation of its relationship with other biochemical pathways represents a critical stage in the elucidation of biological information processing. The field also has immense potential for the development of medical treatments for any number of conditions ranging from aging to neurological disorders. The DNA methylation status of genes is responsible for many heritable traits and varies more or less independently of the genetic code. This variation is often a result of cellular environmental factors including metabolism. A key metabolite in this regard is homocysteine. Knowledge of homocysteine metabolism continues to be amassed, yet the part played by aberrant DNA methylation in homocysteine-related pathologies is often, at best, conjectural. In this analysis, we will review recent insights and attempt to speculate meaningfully concerning the dynamics of the methionine cycle in relation to DNA methylation and disease.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | R139-R147 |
| Journal | Human molecular genetics |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | SPEC. ISS. 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 15 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors apologize for the omission of relevant articles due to space and time limitations. This work was supported in part by grants from the American Institute for Cancer Research, the Purdue-UAB Botanicals Center, the Ovarian SPORE Program and a UAB Postdoctoral Career Development Award to L.L.