A new way to find out how is metabolism linked to the regulation of DNA

Researchers from the University of Alberta have discovered a new way by which metabolism is linked to the regulation of DNA which is the basis of our genetic code. The DNA wraps around specialized proteins called histones in the cell’s nucleus. Normally, histones keep the DNA tightly packaged, preventing the expression of genes and the replication of DNA, which are required for cell growth and division. In order for these critical functions to take place, histones need to be modified with the attachment of an acetyl-group, donated by a critical molecule called acetyl-CoA. This attachment relaxes the DNA, allowing for DNA replication and gene expression. This mechanism is called “epigenetic regulation of DNA” and is important for normal functions (like the growth of an embryo or brain functions) or in common diseases like heart failure or cancer. Until now, how the nucleus generates acetyl-CoA for histone acetylation had remained elusive. The team found that the translocation of PDC into the nucleus made cancer cells grow faster, an observation that may lead to additional strategies in the war against cancer.