Abstract
Methionine is an essential amino acid that plays a significant role in one-carbon metabolism. One-carbon metabolism pathways include the folate cycle, transsulfuration pathway, and methionine metabolism cycle as major components. They are deeply interconnected and yield a single-carbon molecule—the methyl group CH3—via the universal methyl donor, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). CH3 is an integral component of epigenomic regulation via its role in the methylation of nuclear material. Thus, methionine exposure levels are expected to impact epigenomic regulation. Epigenomic imbalances are a known significant cause for neurodevelopmental disorders (ND). Extrapolating, methionine imbalance should lead to ND causation via epigenomic deregulation. In this chapter we collect evidence for such a mechanism of disease, and show that the body does seem to be methionine sensitive, and that methionine metabolism imbalances indeed cause ND. We also discuss the modulation of methionine dietary intake as a potential therapeutic.
While there exists a significant amount of literature for other major methyl donors such as folate, betaine, and choline, it is only recently that evidence for methionine impact on health is becoming known. However, as the more direct precursor to SAM, the body appears more sensitive to methionine exposure. This chapter is expected to fill a vital void in our appreciation for methionine in terms of epigenomic regulation and ND, in its capacity as a major methyl donor.
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Mubarak, G., Zahir, F.R. (2022). Methionine Is a Major Methyl Donor Whose Dietary Intake Likely Plays a Causative Role for Neurodevelopmental Disorders via Epigenomic Profile Alterations. In: Qoronfleh, M.W., Essa, M.M., Saravana Babu, C. (eds) Proteins Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Nutritional Neurosciences. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9781-7_4
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