Another hypothesis is that copper deficiency myelopathy is caused by disruptions in the methylation cycle.
The methylation cycle causes a transfer of a methyl group (-CH₃) from methyltetrahydrofolate to a range of macromolecules by the suspected copper dependent enzyme methionine synthase.
This cycle is able to produce purines, which are a component of DNA nucleotide bases, and also myelin proteins.
The spinal cord is surrounded by a layer of protective protein coating called myelin (see figure).
When this methionine synthase enzyme is disrupted, the methylation decreases and myelination of the spinal cord is impaired.
This cycle ultimately causes myelopathy.
Another hypothesis is that copper deficiency myelopathy is caused by disruptions in the methylation cycle. The methylation cycle causes a transfer of a methyl group (-CH₃) from methyltetrahydrofolate to a range of macromolecules by the suspected copper dependent enzyme methionine synthase. This cycle is able to produce purines, which are a component of DNA nucleotide bases, and also myelin proteins. The spinal cord is surrounded by a layer of protective protein coating called myelin (see figure). When this methionine synthase enzyme is disrupted, the methylation decreases and myelination of the spinal cord is impaired. This cycle ultimately causes myelopathy.
Copper deficiency