The regulation of metabolism in mammals is a complex process that involves multiple layers of coordination at organismal, tissue and cellular level. At the core of metabolic regulation in the cell are dynamic transcriptional programs that are modulated in response to environmental stimuli, hormonal changes, nutrients availability and other signals.
While a vast scientific literature and knowledge has dissected the molecular mechanisms by which extracellular signals modulate gene transcription through signal transduction cascade pathways, how metabolic status influences gene expression through transcriptional regulation is less understood. Recent evidences suggest that the availability of metabolites generated by metabolic pathways can play a key role in this process by directly affecting chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation. These include acetyl-CoA as a substrate for histone acetylation, S-adenosyl methionine and alpha-ketoglutarate for the regulation of histone and DNA methylation and new modifications that continue to be revealed. Metabolic perturbations resulting in the imbalance of these metabolic intermediates can lead to profound phenotypic changes, due to a direct impact on gene transcriptional programs, and contribute to disease states. However, a full understanding of the extent to which the metabolic status of a cell impacts upon gene regulation and chromatin function is still lacking, and the mechanisms providing specificity to the regulation of specific transcriptional programs are largely unknown.
This Research topic aims at collecting Original Research articles, Reviews, and Perspectives elucidating the coordination of metabolism with gene expression and providing novel insights into the molecular basis underpinning the regulation of chromatin function by cellular metabolism in different physiological and pathological context. We seek contributions from investigators addressing these questions across diverse fields, including but not limited to:
· Cancer
· Immunology
· Stem cell
· Aging
· Diabetes & Obesity
· Cardiovascular diseases
· Neurodegeneration
· In vitro and in vivo models elucidating how environmental cues influences epigenetics and transcription
· Genome-wide epigenetic modifications and/or chromatin structure studies in humans, animal or cellular models
· Novel mutations or genetic variants of key “hot spots” for epigenetic modifications
The regulation of metabolism in mammals is a complex process that involves multiple layers of coordination at organismal, tissue and cellular level. At the core of metabolic regulation in the cell are dynamic transcriptional programs that are modulated in response to environmental stimuli, hormonal changes, nutrients availability and other signals.
While a vast scientific literature and knowledge has dissected the molecular mechanisms by which extracellular signals modulate gene transcription through signal transduction cascade pathways, how metabolic status influences gene expression through transcriptional regulation is less understood. Recent evidences suggest that the availability of metabolites generated by metabolic pathways can play a key role in this process by directly affecting chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation. These include acetyl-CoA as a substrate for histone acetylation, S-adenosyl methionine and alpha-ketoglutarate for the regulation of histone and DNA methylation and new modifications that continue to be revealed. Metabolic perturbations resulting in the imbalance of these metabolic intermediates can lead to profound phenotypic changes, due to a direct impact on gene transcriptional programs, and contribute to disease states. However, a full understanding of the extent to which the metabolic status of a cell impacts upon gene regulation and chromatin function is still lacking, and the mechanisms providing specificity to the regulation of specific transcriptional programs are largely unknown.
This Research topic aims at collecting Original Research articles, Reviews, and Perspectives elucidating the coordination of metabolism with gene expression and providing novel insights into the molecular basis underpinning the regulation of chromatin function by cellular metabolism in different physiological and pathological context. We seek contributions from investigators addressing these questions across diverse fields, including but not limited to:
· Cancer
· Immunology
· Stem cell
· Aging
· Diabetes & Obesity
· Cardiovascular diseases
· Neurodegeneration
· In vitro and in vivo models elucidating how environmental cues influences epigenetics and transcription
· Genome-wide epigenetic modifications and/or chromatin structure studies in humans, animal or cellular models
· Novel mutations or genetic variants of key “hot spots” for epigenetic modifications