Transcription factors, regulatory elements and nutrient-gene communication

Dramatic advances have been made ill the understanding of the differing molecular mechanisms used by nutrients to regulate genes that are essential for their biological roles to carry Out normal metabolism. Classical studies have focused Oil nutrients its ligands to activate specific transcription factors. New interest has focused Oil histone acetylation as it process for either global or limited gene activation and is the first mechanism to be discussed. Nuclear ATP-citrate lyase generates acetyl-CoA, which has been shown to have a role ill the activation of specific genes via selective histone acetylation. Transcription factor acetylation may provide it second mode of control of nutrient-responsive gene transcription. The third mechanism relates to the availability of response elements within chromatin, which its well as the location of the elements ill the gene may allow or prevent transcription. A fourth mechanism involves intracellular transport of Zn ions, which call orchestrate localized enzyme inhibition-activation. This Process in turn influences signalling Molecules that regulate gene expression. The examples provided ill the present review point to it new level of complexity ill understanding nutrient-gene communication.