Gut Microbiome, a Potent Modulator of Epigenetics in Human Diseases

Jung-Ae Kim

doi:10.4167/jbv.2017.47.2.75

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Kim: Gut Microbiome, a Potent Modulator of Epigenetics in Human Diseases

Review Article

Journal of Bacteriology and Virology 2017; 47(2): 75-86.

Published online: 25 June 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2017.47.2.75

Gut Microbiome, a Potent Modulator of Epigenetics in Human Diseases

Jung-Ae Kim^1,²

¹Personalized Genomic Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea.

²Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, Korea.

Corresponding author: Jung-Ae Kim. Personalized Genomic Medicine Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea. Phone: +82-42-879-8129, Fax: +82-42-879-8119, jungaekim@kribb.re.kr

Received 31 May 2017 Revised 5 June 2017 Accepted 5 June 2017

(open-access):

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/).

Abstract

Human physiology and pathology can be affected by different nutritional conditions. At cellular level, the availability of a nutritional component not only mediates metabolic reactions but also transmits signals for diverse biological activities. Epigenetic regulation such as DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications is considered as one of the nutrient-mediated signaling receivers as almost all of the epigenetic enzyme activities require intermediary metabolites as cofactors. The gut microbiome as “forgotten organ” has been suggested as a metabolite generator as well as a nutrient sensor for its host organism, affecting human health and diseases. Given the metabolite-dependent activities of epigenetic regulators, the gut microbiome has a high potential to influence the epigenetics in human physiology. Here, I review the involvement of gut microbiome in diverse human diseases and the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation by different metabolites. Thereafter, I discuss how the gut microbiome-generated metabolites affect host epigenetics, raising a possibility to develop a therapeutic intervention based on the interaction between the microbiome and epigenetics for human health.

Keywords: Gut microbiome, Metabolism, Epigenetics

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Chemistry of epigenetic modifications. A. DNA methylation and demethylation, B. Lysine acetylation and deacetylation, C. Lysine methylation and demethylation, D. Arginine methylation and demethylation

Figure 2

Generation of intermediary metabolites essential for epigenetic regulation. A. Acetyl-CoA production, B. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) production, C. α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) production

Notes

This work was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2013R1A1A1006638) and by KRIBB Research Initiative Program.

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