Histone lactylation is a newly demonstrated post-translational modification that links cellular metabolism to epigenetic gene regulation. This new modification, along with other metabolic-related histone modifications such as acetylation, methylation, and butyrylation, is part of the epigenetic language that mediates gene expression.
Glucose metabolism generates a range of metabolites that are substrates for these modifications. In particular, lactate, a by-product of glucose metabolism in the cytosol, was recently shown to be used as a substrate for histone lactylation in response to high glucose conditions.
This lactylation process adds a lactate group to specific residues on histones, which are proteins that help package DNA into a compact, efficient form within the cell nucleus. The addition of this lactate group can affect the structure of the histone and thus influence gene expression.
The discovery of histone lactylation brings a new layer of complexity to our understanding of how metabolism can drive cellular functions. It challenges established knowledge about the use of glucose and lactate and provides a novel link between metabolic states, gene expression, and cellular functions. Moreover, it might open up new avenues for therapeutic intervention in diseases characterized by metabolic dysregulation and altered gene expression, such as cancer and diabetes.
However, the functional consequences of histone lactylation and its potential roles in disease processes are still largely unknown, and much further research is needed to elucidate these important questions. |