Folate, genomic stability and colon cancer: The use of single cell gel electrophoresis in assessing the impact of folate in vitro, in vivo and in human biomonitoring

Gema Nadal Catala, Charles S. Bestwick, Wendy R. Russell, Katia Tortora, Lisa Giovannelli, Mary Pat Moyer, Elena Lendoiro, Susan J. Duthie

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Intake of folate (vitamin B9) is strongly inversely linked with human cancer risk, particularly colon cancer. In general, people with the highest dietary intake of folate or with high blood folate levels are at a reduced risk (approx. 25%) of developing colon cancer. Folate acts in normal cellular metabolism to maintain genomic stability through the provision of nucleotides for DNA replication and DNA repair and by regulating DNA methylation and gene expression. Folate deficiency can accelerate carcinogenesis by inducing misincorporation of uracil into DNA, by increasing DNA strand breakage, by inhibiting DNA base excision repair capacity and by inducing DNA hypomethylation and consequently aberrant gene and protein expression. Conversely, increasing folate intake may improve genomic stability. This review describes key applications of single cell gel electrophoresis (the comet assay) in assessing genomic instability (misincorporated uracil, DNA single strand breakage and DNA repair capacity) in response to folate status (deficient or supplemented) in human cells in vitro, in rodent models and in human case-control and intervention studies. It highlights an adaptation of the SCGE comet assay for measuring genome-wide and gene-specific DNA methylation in human cells and colon tissue.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)73-80
Number of pages8
JournalMutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis
Volume843
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Colon
  • Comet assay
  • DNA methylation
  • Folate
  • Genomic stability
  • Single cell gel electrophoresis
  • Uracil

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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