title: Folate and epigenetic mechanisms in neural tube development and defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple genetic and epigenetic factors involved in central nervous system (CNS) development influence the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The beneficial effect of periconceptional folic acid on NTD prevention denotes a vital role for the single-carbon biochemical pathway in NTD genesis. Indeed, NTDs are associated with polymorphisms in a diversity of genes that encode folate pathway enzymes. Recent evidence suggests that CNS development and function, and consequently NTDs, are also associated with epigenetic mechanisms, many of which participate in the folate cycle and its input and output pathways. We provide an overview with select examples drawn from the authors' research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53792, USA.
authors.forename: Sivan Vadakkadath
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Meethal
authors.forename: Kirk J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: Chandra S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mayanil
authors.forename: Bermans J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Iskandar
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D054259:Neural Tube / Q000196:embryology*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid