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Role of S‐adenosylmethionine in DNA synthesis and haemopoiesis
Author(s) -
Sourial N.A.,
Amess J.A.L.,
Amos R.J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1985.tb00752.x
Subject(s) - haematopoiesis , dna , biology , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , stem cell
In man, exposure to nitrous oxide (N 2 O) can produce neurological damage and megaloblastic change in the bone marrow due to inactivation of vitamin B 12 . Methionine metabolism is interrelated with that of vitamin B 12 and folate; the effect of methionine on the impaired DNA synthesis produced by N 2 O was therefore studied in 17 patients undergoing surgery. 14 were anaesthetised with 50% N 2 O in oxygen for 3–24 h. The remaining 3 had been exposed to N 2 O for less than 3 h. All patients developed megaloblastic bone marrow change except 2 of the latter patients whose bone marrows remained normoblastic. The bone marrow was studied biochemically using the deoxyuridine (dU) suppression test. The in vitro addition of small doses of methionine was as effective as vitamin B 12 itself in correcting the defective DNA synthesis produced by N 2 O. It is suggested that N 2 O impairs methionine biosynthesis, methionine, in the form of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM), being required for DNA synthesis and the prevention of the development of megaloblastic anaemia in man.