title: DNA methylation, genomic silencing, and links to nutrition and cancer.
abstract: DNA methylation is a heritable epigenetic feature that is associated with transcriptional silencing, X-chromosome inactivation, genetic imprinting, and genomic stability. The addition of the methyl group is catalyzed by a family of DNA methyltransferases whose co-substrates are DNA and S-adenosylmethionine, the latter being derived from the methionine cycle. Aberrant DNA methylation is linked to numerous pathologies, including cancer. The purpose of this review is to describe DNA methylation and its functions, to examine the relationship between dietary methyl insufficiency and DNA methylation, and to evaluate the associations between DNA methylation and cancer.
authors: Human Nutrition and Food Science Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA.
authors: Dale C
authors: DC
authors: McCabe
authors: Marie A
authors: MA
authors: Caudill
mesh_terms: D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016678:Genome; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin