Redox and Methylation in the Gut, Brain and Immune System. Part I: General Principles

The ability to resist oxidation and to adapt to environmental stressors is fundamental to homeostasis, and sulfur metabolism provides the foundation for these abilities. Signaling molecules with the ability to change the redox state can exert a broad influence over cellular metabolism, including methylation-mediated epigenetic effects on gene transcription that can persist across the lifespan and even across generations. Conversely, environmental factors which interfere with redox signaling can disrupt its regulatory role, contributing to a number of disorders affecting almost every aspect of physiological function. This lecture will provide an overview of the cellular processes which regulate redox and methylation in the GI tract, the brain and the immune system, illustrating similarities and cell type-specific differences.