Advances in DNA methylation of imprinted genes and folic acid regulation of growth and development
Creators: name: Guo, Xiaojing
name: Yang, Junwei
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Cancer
subject: Hematology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: DNA methylation is closely related to folate levels and acts as a mechanism linking developmental disorders to chronic diseases. Folic acid supplementation can impact DNA methylation levels of imprinted genes crucial for neonatal development. Imprinted genes are vital for regulating embryonic and postnatal fetal growth. This review summarizes imprinted genes, DNA methylation, folic acid’s influence on growth and development and their correlation. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of research advancements on imprinted genes, DNA methylation and folic acid regulation concerning growth and development. For embryo formation and early fetal development, proper DNA methylation is necessary. Insufficient maternal supplementation of folic acid and other nutrients may lead to an inadequate DNA methylation pattern being established. This can lead to diseases related to infant development and even impact the health of the offspring throughout their entire life. Genomic imprinting is an evolutionary phenomenon. DNA methylation is closely linked to genomic imprinting and is key to regulating genomic imprinting. Epigenetic information encoded by 5mC plays a crucial role in mammalian development and human diseases. DNA methyltransferases regulate its <i>de novo</i> generation and maintenance. The regulation of developmental processes by DNA methylation is primarily evident in the molecular changes that occur in germ cells, embryonic cells and fetal development. The growth and development of offspring can be influenced by folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. Folate levels are associated with DNA methylation. DNA methylation serves as both a biomarker of folate status and a mechanistic connection between developmental disorders and chronic diseases. Imprinted genes play a crucial role in regulating embryonic development and postnatal fetal growth in mammals. DNA methylation of imprinted genes varies among individuals, exhibiting diverse placenta-specific imprinting. This placenta-specific differentially methylated region may result from incomplete erasure of maternal methylated differentially methylated regions. It is not known whether polymorphic imprinting is associated with any phenotypic outcome in the placenta. Significant advancements have been made in understanding the regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms of imprinted gene DNA methylation and folate status on mammalian growth and development. Further studies are needed to directly explore the role of DNA methylation of imprinted genes in folate-regulated growth and development using human samples.