ABSTRACT
Gene Transcription ........................................................................366 14.4 Roles of HDACs and Metabolic Diseases .................................................. 367
14.4.1 Ties of HATs and HDACs to Metabolism ..................................... 367 14.4.2 Dysregulation of HATs and HDACs in Metabolic Diseases ........ 368
14.5 Bioactive Food Components ....................................................................... 371 14.5.1 Short-Chain Fatty Acids ............................................................... 371
14.5.1.1 Butyrate ........................................................................ 371 14.5.2 Polyphenols ................................................................................... 372
14.5.2.1 Curcumin ...................................................................... 372 14.5.2.2 Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate........................................... 374
14.5.3 Organosulfur Compounds ............................................................. 375 14.5.3.1 Sulforaphane ................................................................. 375 14.5.3.2 Diallyl Disulde ........................................................... 376
14.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 377 References .............................................................................................................. 379
Epigenetics is dened as the study of heritable changes in gene expression without underlying changes in DNA sequence [1-4]. DNA methylation and posttranslational modications of histones are good examples for epigenetic mechanisms that can regulate gene expression. Chromatin modiers that mediate the methylation, acetylation, and other modications of histones represent targets to elicit changes in gene expression. The activities of chromatin-modifying enzymes are regulated, in part, by the concentration of intermediary metabolites that are utilized as substrates or cofactors for enzymatic activity [5,6]. It is conceivable that perturbation or changes in metabolism associated with obesity and aging could affect the activity of chromatin modiers and thus gene expression. The opposite could also be true, where changes in the activity of chromatin modiers could alter metabolism. Fortunately, many epigenetic modications are reversible, leaving the door open for manipulation of chromatin-modifying enzymes through the consumption of bioactive food components as well as pharmacological agents.
