Folate Transport & DNA Methylation:The Molecular Approach

The folate transport system reflects complex regulatory mechanism of diverse biochemical and physiological nature at the absorptive epithelia dictated by the site and tissue specific microenvironment. The author studied the alcohol associated changes on DNA methylation which explains the etiology of the cancer via epigenetic mechanisms. Here insights in the role that reduced folate carrier and folate binding protein play in folate delivery across epithelia in conditions of malabsorption has been primarily explained at molecular level. In addition, disruption of the epigenome by extremes of dietary folates in human tissue recombination xenograft/orthotopic models using mesenchymal stem cells for cancer development and progression has also been highlighted. The knowledge regarding the expression, intracellular regulation and localization of carriers in relation to their role in the transport of folate might be useful for development of future therapeutic strategies for counteracting the clinical findings of folate deficiency. This work was carried out at the India’s Premier Medical Science Institute-Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh India.