Carcinogens that play a dual role in the body

Formaldehyde, a toxin and carcinogen found in a variety of environmental sources, including building materials, automobile exhaust, and cigarette smoke, plays a dual role in the human body, according to a recent study published in Science. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Oxford University reported that formaldehyde inhibits DNA methylation, an essential epigenetic process in our bodies that regulates gene expression.

“The broader implications of our research are that it provides a biochemical mechanism for how formaldehyde can become a carcinogen. We show that altering formaldehyde levels within the body can also alter the epigenetics, which can reprogram cancer. It showed that it exists.” – Christopher Chang, UC Berkeley professor of chemistry, molecular and cell biology.

Formaldehyde: Not Just an Environmental Toxin

Previous research has shown that formaldehyde, when present in large quantities, can cause cross-linking and block DNA. However, these studies did not account for the toxicity of small amounts of formaldehyde. Chang and his team showed that formaldehyde, which the body produces in small amounts, regulates epigenetic changes. These findings suggest that excess formaldehyde may inhibit the body’s efforts to regulate the expression or overexpression of certain genes, potentially causing cancer.

Formaldehyde and one-carbon metabolism

Chang and his colleagues embarked on a study exploring formaldehyde. CH2O — after discovering that it is produced in the body. Despite the contradiction of delivering known toxins into our bodies, DespitChang remained. He compared formaldehyde to reactive oxygen species, or nitric oxide, which are beneficial to the body in small amounts but can be harmful in excessive amounts.

The role of formaldehyde in gene regulation

Using a chemical proteomics approach, the researchers identified an intriguing pathway by which formaldehyde regulates an entire class of biochemistry known as one-carbon metabolism. They found that formaldehyde inhibits an enzyme that produces S-adenosylmethionine, another one-carbon molecule that serves as a source of methyl groups attached to DNA to regulate the expression of certain genes. This finding suggests that formaldehyde directly causes epigenetic changes.

The research team is currently exploring biomarkers that indicate high levels of formaldehyde in the body, which may signal an increased risk of cancer. They are also investigating whether increased levels of formaldehyde in the body contribute to aging.

The evolutionary role of formaldehyde

Chang argues that formaldehyde’s role in life dates back to early evolutionary history, as it is known to affect the growth of simple organisms such as bacteria. The implications of this discovery are far-reaching and raise new questions about the importance of single-carbon metabolism in the evolution of life.