ABSTRACT

This chapter aims to provide a context for the nutrient-gene interactions, starting with the question of how the transducing systems that mediate such effects may have arisen during evolution. Even though few mammalian systems have been characterized that show direct effects of nutrients on genes, numerous examples are under study in microorganisms. The chapter illustrates some of the means by which nutrients may affect genetic activity in the absence of hormonal mediators. It discusses the presence of nutrient-sensitive chemoreceptors in mammals including neural and endocrine mechanisms. The chapter reviews temporal and quantitative aspects of gene expression in mammals. Implicit in the theory of evolution is the idea of feedback control; living organisms can not function optimally unless they are able to detect and use information concerning the environment. Much work dealing with nutrient-gene interactions emphasizes effects that are regulated by nutrients but secondary to hormonal secretion.