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Methylation is a chemical reaction where a methyl group is added to a molecule, often with the help of enzymes. It is involved in gene expression, protein functioning, and RNA metabolism. Abnormalities in methylation can lead to genetic defects, immune disorders, and cancer.
Methylation is a type of chemical reaction in which methyl groups are added to other molecules. A methyl group has the formula CH3, which represents its structure as a carbon atom to which three hydrogen atoms are bonded. Referred to as functional groups, methyl groups are just one example of an alkyl group, all of which have single bonded carbon and hydrogen atoms. The number of carbon atoms in the backbone of the alkyl group determines which one it is. Functional groups are the parts of molecules that cause the characteristic chemical reactions associated with the molecule.
Since methyl is an alkyl, methylation is a form of alkylation. During an alkylation reaction, the specific alkyl group is attached to the molecule by displacing a hydrogen atom. In methylation, the methyl group is the functional group that replaces the hydrogen. There are hundreds of different methylation reactions that occur in biological systems.
In biological systems, mettransferase enzymes are required to catalyze this chemical reaction. Many different types of molecules undergo methylation with the assistance of enzymes, including DNA, RNA, and proteins. The pattern is established during embryonic development and continues throughout life as methyl groups are continuously lost and added to relevant molecules. This is a natural process that is involved in the regulation of gene expression, protein functioning, and RNA metabolism. If this process has not taken place, adverse health effects may occur.
A number of genetic defects have been linked to abnormalities in this process. If there is a mutation in the methyltransferase enzymes, ICF syndrome can result. This syndrome is extremely rare, and symptoms include low-set ears, an enlarged tongue, and increased distance between the eyes. This is an immune disorder that results in low levels of antibodies, so many patients die of infectious diseases before reaching adulthood.
Some forms of cancer have been associated with high or low levels of methylation of some genes. If a gene has been methylated it is used as a marker for some forms of cancer: an example is prostate cancer. If there is an abnormality in the methylation of a gene that controls cell division, this can lead to uncontrolled cell division or tumor growth. Furthermore, if there is a mutation in the gene encoding DNA methyltransferase, this can lead to a proliferation of the enzyme, which in turn can lead to increased methylation of a particular gene.
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