ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the eukaryotic chromatin is organized within the nucleus and how this may be related to gene expression. A key determinant of the interplay between nutrition and immunity is how nutritional factors modify the biological processes of gene expression and subsequent protein synthesis. In view of the complexity of regulated gene expression, transcription of individual or families of genes may be influenced by the nutrient environment on a gene-by-gene case. Divalent cations are essential for the condensation and the higher-order organization of chromatin. Charge neutralization is required for chromatin condensation. Magnesium ions are required for the maintenance of chromatin conformation. The repression of gene expression in the zinc-deficient genome is likely due to multiple factors, including an altered conformation of DNA structure and impaired function of DNA-binding proteins. The level of mRNA for a related proto-oncogene, c-fes, is unchanged by zinc deficiency, indicating some degree of specific enhancement of c-fms mRNA.
