Folate deficiency and neural plate border priming

Folate is an essential vitamin and its deficiency leads to abnormal development of neural tube and neural crest cells. Neural crest cells arise from the neural plate border and this territory is defined by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Folate is the main source for DNA methylation which is an important epigenetic mechanism during early embryogenesis. Low levels of folate have been associated with the reprogramming of epigenetic memory by allowing the gene expression of pluripotent genes. Here, we demonstrate that Folate deficiency leads to the generation of DMRs at related genes with developmental processes as well as increases the potency of neural plate border cells.