Brain Metabolism

Folate / Cobalamin
Methylfolate
Methylcobalamin
Acetylcysteine
Cysteine

Methyl
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution

Alcohol
Ethanol
Acetaldehyde
8-OHdG
MTHFR
Urea

Folate
Methylfolate
(5-MTHF)

Tannic Acid
N-Acetylcysteine
Chitosan

The body needs adequate amounts of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 to produce cysteine.

Folate derived from the Latin word “folium,” which means leaf. Leafy vegetables are among the best dietary sources of folate.

The active form of vitamin B9 is a type of folate known as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) Before entering your bloodstream, your digestive system converts folate to the biologically active form of vitamin B9 ⁠5-MTHF.

Folate:

This is the natural form of vitamin B9 found in foods like leafy greens and citrus fruits.

Methylfolate:

This is the active, biologically available form of folate that the body uses. It's also known as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) or L-methylfolate.

Folic Acid:

This is a synthetic form of folate, often found in supplements and fortified foods.

..

Folate
vs
Folic Acid

Methylcobalamin
vs
Cyanocobalamin

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/methylcobalamin-vs-cyanocobalamin

..

Inductive Effect:

The carbon-hydrogen bonds in a methyl group are slightly polarized, with the electrons being pulled towards the more electronegative carbon atom. This creates a partial negative charge on the carbon, which then pushes electron density towards the atom or group it's attached to.

Hyperconjugation:

In some cases, especially when there's an adjacent pi system (like in an aromatic ring), hyperconjugation can also contribute to the electron-donating effect. Hyperconjugation involves the interaction of the sigma bonds in the methyl group with the pi system, leading to a more stable and electron-rich environment.

Electron-Donating Character:

This electron-donating behavior can be observed in various reactions, including electrophilic aromatic substitution where methyl groups often direct incoming electrophiles to the para and ortho positions (the most stable positions due to the increased electron density).

In the brain, glucose metabolism and cation transport are tightly linked and essential for neuronal function. Glucose, the brain's primary fuel, is transported across the blood-brain barrier and into cells via specific glucose transporters (GLUTs). Cation transport, particularly of sodium and potassium, is vital for maintaining membrane potential and action potentials in neurons.

Glucose metabolism relies on a complex interplay of facilitated diffusion and active transport mechanisms, including the role of cations.

Diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's are associated with abnormalities in glucose metabolism and cation transport, affecting neuronal function and leading to cognitive and behavioral deficits.

..

Ethanol metabolism: The good, the bad, and the ugly

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987720300797

..

Folate
Precursors
Biosynthesis

The main precursors for folate biosynthesis are GTP, p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), and glutamate.

GTP (Guanosine Triphosphate):

This nucleoside triphosphate provides the building blocks for the pterin portion of the folate molecule.

PABA (Para-aminobenzoic acid):

This molecule is crucial for the formation of the pteroyl component of folate.

Glutamate:

This amino acid is incorporated into the folate structure and is essential for its biological activity.

..

Toxic

Trans Fat
Elaidic Acid
Saturated
CETP
Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein

Vitamins like B12, and supplements, like carnitine, can play a role in lipid metabolism and energy production, potentially impacting how the body processes fats, including trans fats.

Vitamin B12 is a cofactor for mitochondrial enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism. Carinatine plays a role in transporting long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production.

..

Monoterpenes (Phenol)
Polyphenol

Volatility: Monoterpenes are generally volatile, while polyphenols are not.

Examples:

Monoterpenes: Limonene (citrus fruits), menthol, eucalyptol.

Polyphenols: Flavonoids (found in fruits and vegetables), anthocyanins (responsible for red and purple colors in plants).

Ascorbic acid (C6H8O6) has a different molecular structure compared to citric acid (C6H8O7).

Astaxanthin

A Xanthophyll Carotenoid found in marine organisms, with studies showing it can be 6,000 times more potent than vitamin C and 550 times more potent than vitamin E.

High ORAC Value:

Astaxanthin has a very high Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value, indicating its strong antioxidant ability to fight free radicals.

Carotenoids:

Carotenoids are a group of naturally occurring pigments found in plants and animals, responsible for various colors, including yellow, orange, and red.

Xanthophylls:

Xanthophylls are a specific subgroup of carotenoids that contain oxygen in their chemical structure. They are often associated with yellow and orange pigments.

Astaxanthin's Unique
Characteristics:

Astaxanthin is a keto-carotenoid with both hydroxyl and ketone functional groups.

..

Nitrogen Balance

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_balance

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_radical_absorbance_capacity

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antioxidants_in_food

..

Footprints of a Singular 22-Nucleotide RNA Ring at the Origin of Life

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7285048/

Scientists uncover a multibillion-year epic written into the chemistry of life

https://phys.org/news/2024-05-scientists-uncover-multibillion-year-epic.html

..

Acetylcysteinamide
C5H10N2O2S
C5H9NO3S
Acetylcysteine

Taurine
Sulfoxide
Sulfonyl
Methane
Dimethyl
Methyl
Methylene (Blue)
Carotenoid (Red)