One-Carbon Metabolism in Pregnant Women, Fetuses, and Infants

Dear Colleagues,

The one-carbon metabolism (OCM) comprises a folate cycle, a choline metabolic pathway linked to a methionine cycle, and the homocysteine in the latter being connected to the trans-sulphuration pathway. The OCM is mainly involved in the transfer of the one-carbon units required for S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyl transfer reactions, nucleic acid synthesis, and amino acid metabolism, all of which support numerous physiological processes.

Many epidemiological studies have shown that adverse environments during the periconceptional, fetal, and early postnatal periods increase the risk of developing non-communicable diseases, leading to the concept of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). In the DOHaD theory, abnormal epigenetic modifications during developmental stages are considered new risk factors for non-communicable diseases. The OCM plays a crucial role in epigenetic modifications that regulate gene expression. The methyl group transfer from SAM, which is synthesized through the OCM, to histone or DNA causes epigenetic modifications. Understanding the OCM during pregnancy and the early postnatal period, when drastic epigenetic remodeling occurs, is vital for DOHaD research.

Therefore, for this Special Issue of Metabolites, we welcome submissions of original research articles and reviews covering (but not limited to) the following topics:

• Studies related to the OCM (folate cycle, choline metabolic pathway, methionine cycle, and trans-sulphuration pathway) in pregnant women or early postnatal infants;
• Alterations in OCM metabolites, metabolic fluxes, and networks during pregnancy;
• Association between OCM status and disease;
• Effects of diet or nutrients on OCM status;
• Association between maternal OCM status and epigenetic modifications in offspring.

Dr. Yoshinori Kubo
Prof. Dr. Hikaru Hori
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.