Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
08:40
Dot Blot Assay for Detecting Global N6-Methyladenosine RNA Modification Levels
Published on: February 6, 2026
The effect of S-adenosylmethionine on CNS gene expression studied by cDNA microarray analysis
Rosaria A Cavallaro1, Andrea Fuso, Fabrizio D'Anselmi
1Department of Surgery P. Valdoni, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Via A. Scarpa 14, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|August 19, 2006
Summary
Alzheimer disease (AD) involves altered S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism. This study investigated if SAM impacts brain gene expression, finding minimal changes in seven genes in neuroblastoma cells.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
Background:
- Alzheimer disease (AD) is associated with altered homocysteine (Hcy) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) metabolism.
- DNA methylation influences amyloid-beta-protein precursor (AbetaPP) processing and amyloid-beta (Abeta) production by regulating Presenilin 1 (PS1) expression.
- Exogenous SAM has been shown to reduce Abeta production by silencing the AbetaPP gene.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the global effect of SAM administration on central nervous system gene expression.
- To determine if SAM influences DNA methylation patterns in neuronal cells relevant to AD pathology.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 588 central nervous system genes in SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cells.
- Comparison of gene expression profiles between untreated (DM) and SAM-treated (DM+SAM) cell cultures using cDNA probes.
Main Results:
- SAM treatment resulted in modulation of only seven genes out of 588 analyzed.
- Three genes were up-regulated and four genes were down-regulated by SAM treatment.
- The observed gene modulations by SAM were at low levels, indicating limited global impact on gene expression.
Conclusions:
- SAM administration has a limited impact on global gene expression in the studied neuroblastoma cell model.
- While SAM influences specific genes, its broad effect on DNA methylation-related gene expression in the context of AD requires further investigation.
