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DNA methylation, riboswitches, and transcription factor activity: fundamental mechanisms of gene–nutrient interactions involving vitamins

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Abstract

Nutrient–gene interactions occur with a variety of nutrients including some minerals, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids and other lipids. Fundamental molecular mechanisms that underlie many of the effects of nutrients on gene expression are presented herein. Two of the mechanisms described influence gene transcription: DNA methylation and transcription factor activation. Another mechanism, riboswitching, can regulate gene expression at different levels, for example, at the mRNA translation level. The first two mechanisms are widely distributed across animal phyla. Riboswitches are documented primarily in more primitive organisms, but may prove to be of wider relevance. Riboswitches are known for several vitamins; those involving thiamine are presented here. The role of folates and retinoids in DNA methylation and transcriptional factor (nuclear retinoid receptor) activities, respectively, is presented in the context of cell proliferation and differentiation, and related physiological or pathological effects during embryogenesis and cancer.

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Acknowledgments

Research in the author’s (AV) laboratory is supported by a grant from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

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  1. Nutrition and Metabolic Research Laboratory and IHRE, Kin-9625 Applied Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, B.C., V5A 1S6, Canada

    Janet Huang & Amandio Vieira

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  1. Janet Huang
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  2. Amandio Vieira
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Correspondence to Amandio Vieira.

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Huang, J., Vieira, A. DNA methylation, riboswitches, and transcription factor activity: fundamental mechanisms of gene–nutrient interactions involving vitamins. Mol Biol Rep 33, 253–256 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-006-9005-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-006-9005-y

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