One-carbon (1C) metabolism comprises a series of interlinking metabolic pathways that include the methionine and folate cycles that are central to cellular function, providing 1C units (methyl groups) for the synthesis of DNA, polyamines, amino acids, creatine, and phospholipids. S-adenosylmethionine is a potent aminopropyl and methyl donor within these cycles and serves as the principal substrate for methylation of DNA, associated proteins, and RNA. We propose that 1C metabolism functions as a key biochemical conduit between parental environment and epigenetic regulation of early development and that interindividual and ethnic variability in epigenetic-gene regulation arises because of genetic variants within 1C genes, associated epigenetic regulators, and differentially methylated target DNA sequences. We present evidence to support these propositions, drawing upon studies undertaken in humans and animals. We conclude that future studies should assess the epigenetic effects of cumulative (multigenerational) dietary imbalances contemporaneously in both parents, as this better represents the human experience.

中文翻译：

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单碳代谢：将营养生物化学与长期发展的表观遗传编程联系起来。

一碳（1C）代谢包括一系列相互联系的代谢途径，其中包括对细胞功能至关重要的蛋氨酸和叶酸循环，从而提供1C单元（甲基）来合成DNA，多胺，氨基酸，肌酸和磷脂。在这些循环中，S-腺苷甲硫氨酸是一种有效的氨丙基和甲基供体，是DNA，相关蛋白和RNA甲基化的主要底物。我们认为1C代谢是父母环境和早期发育的表观遗传调控之间的关键生化通道，表观遗传调控中的个体和种族差异是由于1C基因内的遗传变异，相关的表观遗传调控因子和甲基化的目标DNA序列差异而引起的。 。我们利用在人类和动物身上进行的研究，提出了支持这些主张的证据。我们得出结论，未来的研究应同时评估父母双方累积（多代）饮食不平衡的表观遗传效应，因为这更好地代表了人类的经验。