Shmt1 heterozygosity impairs folate-dependent thymidylate synthesis capacity and modifies risk of Apc(min)-mediated intestinal cancer risk.

ABSTRACT: Folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism is required for the de novo synthesis of purines, thymidylate, and S-adenosylmethionine, the primary cellular methyl donor. Impairments in folate metabolism diminish cellular methylation potential and genome stability, which are risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC). Cytoplasmic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1) regulates the partitioning of folate-activated one-carbons between thymidylate and S-adenosylmethionine biosynthesis. Therefore, changes in SHMT1 expression enable the determination of the specific contributions made by thymidylate and S-adenosylmethionine biosynthesis to CRC risk. Shmt1 hemizygosity was associated with a decreased capacity for thymidylate synthesis due to downregulation of enzymes in its biosynthetic pathway, namely t

SUBMITTER: Macfarlane AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3059437 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature