What is methylation

What is methylation?

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Methylation is one of the most important processes that happen in your brain, body, and across the human genome. It makes everything work properly and without the process of methylation, you cannot live. Methylation is the process of maintaining the balance of literally thousands of neurotransmitters, hormones and other biochemicals essential to good health and life.

Methylation is so important in fact that it is responsible for millions of “methylation” reactions every second! So its really important to understand that your ability to “methyl-ate” is a vital factor in determining your ability to achieve good health and well being both mentally and physically. Methylation has many jobs to do, it does this by supplying the body and its various system with what they need to do their job at optimal levels, so when your methylation is out of balance this can set off a chain reaction of problems that can literally mean the difference between life and death.

Methylation is produced in the body to make methyl groups, these groups are then “donated” to the parts in the body and mind that need them for processing their many functions such as:

  • Turn genes on and off

  • Building & repairing DNA and RNA

  • Reduce the aging process

  • Reduce your risk of heart attack and strokes by 75%.

  • Balance your homocystenine

  • Deal with stress

  • Maintain good mental health

  • Process hormones

  • Detoxify chemicals & heavy metals

  • Fighting infections

  • Building immune cells

  • Balance histamine

  • Support neurotransmitters to prevent depression, anxiety and mental health disorders

  • Produce powerful antioxidants

  • Works with vitamins, minerals, essential fats and amino acids

As you can see methylation has many jobs to do, so its vital if your unwell that you check on the health of your methylation cycle.

Introduction to Methylation

Methylation is a fundamental biological process that plays a crucial role in various cellular functions, including gene expression, DNA repair, and cellular differentiation. At its core, methylation involves the transfer of a methyl group (CH3) from one molecule to another. This seemingly simple chemical modification can have profound effects on DNA, proteins, and other biomolecules within our cells. Proper methylation is essential for the smooth functioning of our cells, and when this process goes awry, it can lead to a host of human diseases, such as cancer, neurological disorders, and metabolic conditions. Understanding methylation helps us appreciate how our bodies regulate complex biological processes and maintain overall health.

Symptoms of methylation imbalances

So, how do you know if your methylation is working properly? Signs and symptoms of methylation problems can tell us if we have imbalances in methylation. Imbalances in methylation can influence how certain molecules act in the body and regulate gene expression, leading to various symptoms. The key to good methylation is balance so when your methylation is having some trouble maintaining this balance certain symptoms can appear. When methylation becomes unbalanced you can end up usually in one of two categories, you can have symptoms of under-methylation from not making enough methylation and or you can have symptoms related to over-methylation. Some people have symptoms in both under and over methylation.

Under-methylation symptoms

Over-methylation symptoms

  • Headache

  • Migraine

  • Rashes

  • Irritability

  • Increase in anxiety

  • Joint pain

  • Muscle pain

  • Insomnia

  • Depression (Maybe suicidal)

  • Nausea

  • Seizures

  • Schizophrenia

  • Vomiting

  • Stomach pain

  • Sweating

  • Rash

  • Hypokalemia

  • Heart palpitations

Causes of methylation imbalances

The are many things that can interfere with methylation, lifestyle, nutrition, the environment you live in and genetics play a big role in how well you methyl-ate or not. Restriction enzymes can also play a role in methylation by distinguishing between methylated and unmethylated DNA sequences, which is crucial for genetic regulation. Specific enzymes, such as MTHFR, play a crucial role in the methylation process and can be affected by genetic mutations. The main causes of methylation include:

  • Genetic mutations such as in MTHFR  and other associated gene mutations

  • MTHFR Gene mutations C667T & A1298C

  • Nutritional problems

  • Stress (Mental & physical)

  • Environmental chemicals & toxins

  • Heavy metal toxicity

  • Medications (antacids, methotrexate, metformin, nitrous oxides, antiseptics)

  • Reduced hydrochloric acids for digestion

  • Aging (as we age methylation can reduce)

  • Diet

  • Alcohol

The importance of homocysteine in gene expression

One the more important methylation processes is called the homocysteine cycle, this process is vital in keeping us healthy and so having homocysteine out of balance can mean big problems, this is because homocysteine needs to be converted to SAMe (at the top) and glutathione (at the bottom) as per the diagram below.  Should something from the list above interfere with this process, methylation of homocysteine is inhibited which can lead to imbalances in the methylation cycle that can lead to disease and death.

If the is done right, SAMe goes on to be a methyl donor to support healthy methylation and glutathione goes on to act as a powerful antioxidant that prevents the aging process.

DNA Methylation and Gene Expression

DNA methylation is a specific type of epigenetic modification where a methyl group is added to the cytosine residue in a CpG dinucleotide. This tiny chemical change can have significant effects on gene expression. By altering the binding of transcription factors to specific DNA sequences, DNA methylation can either silence or activate genes. Typically, when a gene is heavily methylated, it is turned off, but in some cases, methylation can also enhance gene expression. The regulation of gene expression through DNA methylation is a complex dance involving various molecular players, including transcriptional repressors and changes in chromatin structure. This intricate process ensures that genes are expressed at the right time and place, which is crucial for normal development and cellular function.

Mechanism of DNA Methylation

The mechanism of DNA methylation involves the transfer of a methyl group from a molecule called S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the cytosine residue in a CpG dinucleotide. This reaction is facilitated by a family of enzymes known as DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). These enzymes are key players in establishing and maintaining DNA methylation patterns. Among them, DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B are particularly important, each with its own specific roles and targets. DNMT1 is primarily responsible for maintaining existing methylation patterns during DNA replication, while DNMT3A and DNMT3B are involved in adding new methylation marks, a process known as de novo methylation. The activity of these enzymes is tightly regulated through interactions with other molecules and modifications to the chromatin structure, ensuring that DNA methylation patterns are precisely controlled to support proper gene expression and cellular function.

Location of DNA Methylation

DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic mechanism that plays a significant role in regulating gene expression. The location of DNA methylation is not random and is often found in specific regions of the genome. One of the primary sites for DNA methylation is within CpG islands, which are regions rich in cytosine and guanine nucleotides. These CpG islands are typically located near the promoter regions of genes, where they can have a profound impact on gene expression.

When methyl groups are added to the cytosine residues within these CpG islands, it can lead to the silencing of the associated gene. This is because the methylation can prevent transcription factors from binding to the DNA sequence, thereby inhibiting the transcriptional activity of the gene. Conversely, the absence of methylation in these regions can allow for active gene expression.

In addition to CpG islands, DNA methylation can also occur in other regions of the genome, including gene bodies and intergenic regions. The methylation patterns in these areas can influence the overall chromatin structure and accessibility, further regulating gene expression. Understanding the specific locations and patterns of DNA methylation is essential for comprehending how genes are regulated and how disruptions in these patterns can lead to various human diseases.

Methylation & MTHFR gene mutations

People with mthfr gene mutations often have problems with methylation that need to be corrected and supported. Pharmacological inhibition of certain enzymes can be used to manage methylation imbalances in individuals with MTHFR gene mutations. One of the biggest problems that comes with the mthfr gene mutation is the reduced ability to convert folate, into methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which is the enzyme needed in many parts of the methylation process.  Further this reduced ability to use folate properly, means that many other supportive nutrients involved in the methylation cycle are also disadvantaged, which is why those with the mthfr gene mutations need additional support to ensure that their methylation cycle is corrected and maintained to prevent methylation symptoms and diseases that result from methylation imbalances.

Methylation is complex to say the least, if you have any of the symptoms on this page it is best to contact one of our professionals who understand methylation and how to correct imbalances.

Russell Browne
Researched and verified by Russell Browne SNHS Dip. (Advanced Nutrition) – specialist expertise in epigenetics, and nutrigenomics (genetic mutation specialist).