title: One-carbon metabolism, spermatogenesis, and male infertility.
abstract: Balanced diet is the natural source of micronutrients, such as folate and vitamins, vital for proper functioning of the body. One-carbon metabolic pathway along with folate and other vitamins plays an important role in DNA synthesis and in the establishment of epigenetic modifications like DNA/histone methylation. Spermatogenesis involves distinct cellular, genetic, and chromatin changes during the course of production of male gamete sperm. Folate and normal activity of 1-carbon metabolic pathway enzymes are central to nucleotide synthesis, methylation, and maintenance of genomic integrity as well as protection from DNA damage. As a result, polymorphisms in 1-carbon metabolic pathway genes affecting several physiological processes also have an impact on spermatogenesis and may affect directly or indirectly quality of sperm. Alterations in these processes may be a consequence of additive effect resulting from altered expression of 1-carbon metabolic pathway genes and/or inadequate folate/micronutrients supplementation. The present review provides an overview of different cellular and molecular events regulated by 1-carbon metabolic pathway enzymes and their impact on male reproductive health. It also summarizes the different studies where polymorphisms in the enzymes of 1-carbon metabolic pathway or folate deficiency are associated with male infertility and future prospects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. singhk4@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Deepika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jaiswal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004260:DNA Repair; D004261:DNA Replication; D004032:Diet; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000378:metabolism*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D006710:Homocysteine; D002244:Carbon; C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
keywords: MTHFR; male infertility; methylation; oxidative damage; spermatogenesis