Navigation Links
Lack of key enzyme in the metabolism of folic acid leads to birth defects
Date:1/17/2013

AUSTIN, Texas Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered that the lack of a critical enzyme in the folic acid metabolic pathway leads to neural tube birth defects in developing embryos.

It has been known for several decades that folic acid supplementation dramatically reduces the incidence of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, which are among the most common birth defects. In some populations, folic acid supplementation has decreased neural tube defects by as much as 70 percent.

However, scientists still do not fully understand how folic acid decreases neural tube defects, or why folic acid supplementation does not eliminate birth defects in all pregnancies.

"Now, we've found that mutation of a key folic acid enzyme causes neural tube defects in mice," said Dean Appling, professor of biochemistry in the College of Natural Sciences. "This is the clearest mechanistic link yet between folic acid and birth defects."

Appling and his colleagues published their research in the Jan. 8 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The scientists made the discovery using mice that lack a gene for a folic acid enzyme called Mthfd1l, which is required for cells to produce a metabolite called formate. Embryos need formate to develop normally.

"This work reveals that one of the ways that folic acid prevents birth defects is by ensuring the production of formate in the developing embryo," said Appling, "and it may explain those 30 percent of neural tube defects that cannot be prevented by folic acid supplementation."

Appling said that the mice provide researchers with a strong model system that they can use to further understand folic acid and its role in birth defects in humans. In fact, humans share the same gene for the folic acid enzyme with the mouse and all other mammals. Indeed, it has recently been discovered that point mut
'/>"/>

Contact: Dean Appling, professor
dappling@austin.utexas.edu
512-471-4796
University of Texas at Austin
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. RUB researchers find over active enzyme in failing hearts
2. Powerful enzymes create ethanol from agricultural harvest waste
3. Nutrient-sensing enzymes key to starvation response and survival in newborn mammals
4. Can compressed fluids increase enzyme activity in industrial bioprocesses?
5. Inhibition of enzyme NOX4 prevents liver fibrosis
6. Researchers use blood testing to predict level of enzymes that facilitate disease progression
7. New inhibitors of elusive enzymes promise to be valuable scientific tools
8. Remarkable enzyme points the way to reducing nitric acid use in industry
9. Ancient enzymes function like nanopistons to unwind RNA
10. Brain enzyme is double whammy for Alzheimers disease
11. Is it a rock, or is it Jell-O? Defining the architecture of rhomboid enzymes
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/21/2013)... USC have found that a class of pharmaceuticals can ... , The drugs, known as "TSPO ligands," are currently ... at the effects of TSPO ligand in young adult ... in aged mice when pathology was quite severe," said ... of Gerontology. "TSPO ligand reduced measures of pathology and ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Chicago College of Medicine will study gender differences in how ... source -- and how changes in fat metabolism play a ... grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. , ... energy. These changes may play a major role in the ... women, says E. Douglas Lewandowski, director of the UIC Center ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... charted the path of insulin action in cells in ... blueprint for understanding what goes wrong in diabetes. ... Professor David James from Sydney,s Garvan Institute of Medical ... of the prestigious journal Cell Metabolism . , ... very important role in the body because it helps ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Drugs found to both prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in mice 2Do men's and women's hearts burn fuel differently? 2Insight into the dazzling impact of insulin in cells 2Insight into the dazzling impact of insulin in cells 3
... For the first time in its history, the French ... granted approval to a private testing company -- the Graduate ... part of its efforts to ensure the highest level of ... obtained this permission. , , GMAC is the international ...
... "grassoline" second generation biofuels made from inedible ... etc. and numerous scientific studies have shown ... to meet our transportation needs. However, before we ... sustainable, carbon-neutral grassoline, numerous barriers must be overcome, ...
... the Department of Energy,s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has ... Scientists and Engineers. The award honors his research on ... cleaning up buried nuclear or toxic contaminants and storing ... by the White House, the PECASE is the highest ...
Cached Biology News:French Authorities Give Sole Approval to GMAT Exam to Collect Biometric Data to Advance Security 2French Authorities Give Sole Approval to GMAT Exam to Collect Biometric Data to Advance Security 3New technique can fast-track better ionic liquids for biomass pre-treatments 2New technique can fast-track better ionic liquids for biomass pre-treatments 3New technique can fast-track better ionic liquids for biomass pre-treatments 4PNNL scientist garners early career presidential award 2
(Date:5/21/2013)... England , May 22, 2013 ... novel drug-only formulation of glycopyrronium bromide designed using Prosonix, ... pharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of inhaled Respiratory ... clinical study with PSX1002 that will assess its effect ... of doses in patients with moderate to severe chronic ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Bellingham, WA (PRWEB) May 21, 2013 ... teacher trainings, and funds for lab equipment, 25 organizations ... relevance and importance of optics and photonics in daily ... Grants . , The organizations, located in 10 countries, ... grants to be awarded by SPIE, the international ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... 2013 Savoury Systems International (SSI), a ... Braddy to Southeastern USA Sales Broker. Braddy’s new role ... in the Southeast. , In 2004 Braddy ... supplier to food processors and industrial manufacturers. Braddy ... food industry and has over 25 years of sales ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Canada (PRWEB) May 21, 2013 ... is a strong push within the industry to ... and Manufacturing Organizations and pharma companies often means ... frames. , Microtablets, developed in collaboration with Sensidose ... effective outsourcing can bring products to market sooner. ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Prosonix Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Study with PSX1002 in Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 2Prosonix Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Study with PSX1002 in Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 3Prosonix Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Study with PSX1002 in Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 4Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 2Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 3The Development of an Innovative Microtablet Dosage Form, a Success Story: Live Webinar Hosted by Xtalks 2
... 21, 2011 Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (Euronext: ... therapy, today announced that the European Medicines Agency,s (EMA) ... maintained its earlier opinion that Glybera (alipogene tiparvovec) is ... contrary to the positive recommendation of CHMP Rapporteurs, the ...
... PARIS, October 21, 2011 , Hepatitis B ... 350  million people worldwide being chronically infected [1] ... [2] - yet there remains a lack of reliable resources ... PATH B - "Patients and Professionals Acting Together for Hepatitis ...
... Today, Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07) and Tonya Mallory, co-founder, ... Inc.), a CAP accredited leader in health management, ... and economic growth with local business leaders at the ... (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111020/PH91012 ) "We all ...
Cached Biology Technology:Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Receives Opinion on Re-examination of Glybera® Marketing Authorisation Application 2Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Receives Opinion on Re-examination of Glybera® Marketing Authorisation Application 3"PATH B": A Comprehensive Support Programme in Europe for Patients Diagnosed With Chronic Hepatitis B Launched 2"PATH B": A Comprehensive Support Programme in Europe for Patients Diagnosed With Chronic Hepatitis B Launched 3"PATH B": A Comprehensive Support Programme in Europe for Patients Diagnosed With Chronic Hepatitis B Launched 4Congressman Eric Cantor and Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. Discuss Job Growth at Virginia BioTechnology Research Park 2Congressman Eric Cantor and Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. Discuss Job Growth at Virginia BioTechnology Research Park 3
Contains 0.2 g/L EDTA4Na in phosphate-buffered saline....
MHC Volumes 1 & 2...
Vertical Rack (five box vapor phase rack), includes 2.0" (5.1cm) boxes...
... Casein Kinase 1, active MW: 34.2kDa ... NaCl, 0.02% Brij-35, 1mM dithiothreitiol with ... data, refer to the Certificate of ... Purification: ammonium salt precipitation followed by ...
Biology Products: