Access Type
Open Access Dissertation
Date of Award
January 2011
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Nutrition and Food Science
First Advisor
Ahmad R. Heydari
Abstract
The condition of folate deficiency has been implicated in carcinogenesis, with the strongest evidence formulated in colon cancer. The role of folate in DNA repair, DNA synthesis and methylation reactions renders this nutrient an valuable target for studying the onset and progression of cancer. Using molecular techniques to determine gene and protein expression, enzyme activity and methylation status elucidates the mechanism of DNA repair and damage in folic acid deficient animals in response to carcinogen. The findings presented in this study indicate failure to remove and repair damage in the condition of folate deficiency and suggest that the accumulation of DNA base lesions and damage can result in clonogenic selection of initiated cells, driving carcinogenesis.
Recommended Citation
Pilling, Amanda, "The impact of folate deficiency on the base excision repair pathway: Analysis of enzyme coordination in response to dna damage and imbalanced repair" (2011). Wayne State University Dissertations. 291.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/291