Metabolism and chromatin dynamics in health and disease

Abstract

The regulation of gene expression in response to environmental and behavioural cues is critical for many biological processes. Histone tail modifications are dynamic and, as such, can regulate gene expression in response to extracellular conditions. Many of the enzymes involved in adding and removing these modifications require cofactors that are products of intermediary metabolism pathways, thus linking cellular metabolism to the regulation of gene expression. Furthermore, the expression and activity of such enzymes are influenced by the cellular concentrations of metabolic products. Under- and over-nutrition can induce epigenetic changes that influence chromatin structure and define a meta..