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Maternal Folate and DNA Methylation in Offspring

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Handbook of Nutrition, Diet, and Epigenetics

Abstract

Folate plays a critical role in DNA methylation as it is a key source of methyl donors via the one-carbon metabolism cycle. Folate supplementation is recommended during the periconceptional period for the prevention of neural tube defects in offspring. However, maternal folate levels during pregnancy may also influence the risk of many other conditions in offspring, but the underlying mechanisms involved are unclear. As such, it is important to investigate the possible association between maternal folate status and disease risk that act via modulation of the methylome. Improving methods and technologies available for profiling DNA methylation has allowed for rapidly expanding investigations in this field; however, limitations in study design remain. On the available evidence, global DNA methylation does not appear to be associated with maternal folate status in cord blood samples, but this response may be tissue specific as correlations have been found in fetal brains and adult murine intestines. Several studies have shown differential locus-specific methylation in response to maternal folate status. However, results may vary depending on the assay methods employed, including different assessments of the methylome, different measures of folate status, and cohort composition. Although maternal folate status is linked to disease risk, additional research is required to link this modulation of the methylome to altered health and disease outcomes.

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Abbreviations

5CaC:

5-Carboxylcytosine

1CM:

One-carbon metabolism

5fmC:

5-Formylcytosine

5hmC:

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine

5mC:

5-Methylcystosine

AID:

Activation-induced deaminase

DHF:

Dihydrofolate

DHFR:

Dihydrofolate reductase

DMR:

Differentially methylated region

DNMT:

DNA methyltransferase

DOHaD:

Developmental origins of health and disease

IAP:

Intracisternal A particle

MS-PCR:

Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction

MS-qPCR:

Methylation-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction

MTHFR:

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase

MTR:

Methionine synthase

MTRR:

Methionine synthase reductase

NTDs:

Neural tube defects

SAH:

S-Adenosylhomocysteine

SAM:

S-Adenosylmethionine

SHMT:

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase

Tet:

Ten-eleven translocation

THF:

Tetrahydrofolate

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Science Offices, Chittaway Rd, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia

    Emma L. Beckett

  2. School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Science Offices, Chittaway Rd, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia

    Mark Lucock

  3. School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Gosford Hospital, Henry Parry Drive, Gosford, NSW, 2250, Australia

    Martin Veysey

  4. Population Health Branch, National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, PO Box 12233, Mail drop K3-12, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27709, USA

    Bonnie R. Joubert

Authors
  1. Emma L. Beckett
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  2. Mark Lucock
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  3. Martin Veysey
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  4. Bonnie R. Joubert
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Correspondence to Emma L. Beckett .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. c/o Editorial Board 978-0-387-78665 , Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Vinood Patel

  2. Kings College , London, United Kingdom

    Victor Preedy

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Beckett, E.L., Lucock, M., Veysey, M., Joubert, B.R. (2017). Maternal Folate and DNA Methylation in Offspring. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V. (eds) Handbook of Nutrition, Diet, and Epigenetics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31143-2_3-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31143-2_3-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31143-2

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