Insights from space: potential role of diet in the spatial organization of chromosomes

Nutrients. 2014 Dec 10;6(12):5724-39. doi: 10.3390/nu6125724.

Abstract

We can now sequence and identify genome wide epigenetic patterns and perform a variety of "genomic experiments" within relatively short periods of time-ranging from days to weeks. Yet, despite these technological advances, we have a poor understanding of the inter-relationships between epigenetics, genome structure-function, and nutrition. Perhaps this limitation lies, in part, in our propensity to study epigenetics in terms of the linear arrangement of elements and genes. Here we propose that a more complete understanding of how nutrition impacts on epigenetics and cellular development resides within the inter-relationships between DNA and histone modification patterns and genome function, in the context of spatial organization of chromatin and the epigenome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin / genetics*
  • DNA Methylation
  • Diet*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Epigenomics
  • Estrogens / metabolism
  • Genome
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Nutrigenomics*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Estrogens
  • Histones