Chemical signaling between gut microbiota and host chromatin: What is your gut really saying?

J Biol Chem. 2017 May 26;292(21):8582-8593. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R116.761577. Epub 2017 Apr 7.

Abstract

Mammals and their gut microbial communities share extensive and tightly coordinated co-metabolism of dietary substrates. A large number of microbial metabolites have been detected in host circulation and tissues and, in many cases, are linked to host metabolic, developmental, and immunological states. The presence of these metabolites in host tissues intersects with regulation of the host's epigenetic machinery. Although it is established that the host's epigenetic machinery is sensitive to levels of endogenous metabolites, the roles for microbial metabolites in epigenetic regulation are just beginning to be elucidated. This review focuses on eukaryotic chromatin regulation by endogenous and gut microbial metabolites and how these regulatory events may impact host developmental and metabolic phenotypes.

Keywords: DNA demethylation; DNA methylation; chromatin; epigenetics; histone acetylation; histone deacetylase (HDAC); histone methylation; metabolism; microbiome.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa* / metabolism
  • Intestines* / microbiology
  • Signal Transduction*