Abstract
Homocysteine is an intermediate product in the metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine. Homocysteine is either remethylated to yield methionine or is further metabolized to cysteine and α-ketoglutarate which are both diverted to protein synthesis. These two metabolic processes – remethylation and transsulfuration pathways – are dependent on several enzymes and co-factors. The remethylation cycle is dependent on the rate-limiting enzyme methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and the B group vitamins folate and B12. The transsulfuration pathway is likewise dependent on cystathionine-β -synthase and pyridoxine. Thus, any alterations in the functions of these enzymes (due to polymorphisms of their genes) or a deficiency of any of these three vitamins of the B group (folate, B12 and pyridoxine) will result in reduced metabolism of homocysteine and its consequent accumulation. Homocysteine causes altered redox potential as well as modification of proteins.
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Notes
- 1.
Vincent du Vigneaud was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1955 for his work on sulphur-containing compounds.
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Bhargava, S. (2018). Homocysteine: Discovery and Metabolism. In: The Clinical Application of Homocysteine. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7632-9_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7632-9_2
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