Methionine concentration in the diet has a tissue-specific effect on chromosomal stability in female mice

Author(s)

Aissa, Alexandre Ferro ^[1] ; Ursula Hermogenes Gomes, Tarsila Daysy ^[2] ; Almeida, Mara Ribeiro ^[2] ; Hernandes, Livia Cristina ^[2] ; Castania Darin, Joana D'arc ^[2] ; Pires Bianchi, Maria Lourdes ^[2] ; Greggi Antunes, Lusania Maria ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Genet, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Pharmaceut Sci Ribeirao Preto, Dept Clin Anal Toxicol & Food Sci, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Food and Chemical Toxicology; v. 62, p. 456-462, DEC 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

Inadequate nutrient intake can influence the genome. Since methionine is an essential amino acid that may influence DNA integrity due to its role in the one-carbon metabolism pathway, we were interested in whether methionine imbalance can lead to genotoxic events. Adult female Swiss mice were fed a control (0.3% DL-methionine), methionine-supplemented (2.0% DL-methionine) or methionine-deficient (0% DL-methionine) diet over a 10-week period. Chromosomal damage was assessed in peripheral blood using a micronucleus test, and DNA damage was assessed in the liver, heart and peripheral blood tissues using a comet assay. The mRNA expression of the mismatch repair genes Mlh1 and Msh2 was analyzed in the liver. The frequency of micronucleus in peripheral blood was increased by 122% in the methionine-supplemented group (p < 0.05). The methionine-supplemented diet did not induce DNA damage in the heart and liver tissues, but it increased DNA damage in the peripheral blood. The methionine-deficient diet reduced basal DNA damage in liver tissue. This reduction was correlated with decreased mRNA expression of Msh2. Our results demonstrate that methionine has a tissue-specific effect because methionine-supplemented diet induced both chromosomal and DNA damage in peripheral blood while the methionine-deficient diet reduced basal DNA damage in the liver. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/01410-0 - Gene-diet interaction in mice supplemented with methionine in the fetal and postnatal periods: studies of genomic instability, methylation and expression of genes related to cardiovascular diseases
• Grantee: Alexandre Ferro Aissa
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/02365-6 - Methylation profile, genomic instability and gene expression evaluations related with cardiovascular diseases in mice supplemented with methionine diet
• Grantee: Lusânia Maria Greggi Antunes
• Support type: Regular Research Grants