Fat Nucleosome: role of lipids on chromatin

Abstract

Structural changes in chromatin regulate gene expression and define phenotypic outcomes. Molecules that bind to the nucleosome, the complex of DNA and histones proteins, are key modulators of chromatin structure. Most recently, formation of heterochromatin regions was proposed based on the phase-separation in the cell, a basic physical mechanism. Recent studies have increased the understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between chromatin and lipids, suggesting that small lipid molecules, such as cholesterol and short-chain fatty acids, can regulate important nuclear functions. Very recently, it was showed that cholesterol interacts with nucleosome through multiple binding sites and affects chromatin structure in vitro. Focused on lipids that bind to clinical relevant transcription factors, nuclear receptors, we explored the nucleosome interaction to steroids hormones, bile acid and fatty acids, which suggests that other lipid chemotypes may impact chromatin structure through binding to common nucleosome sites. Herein, we reviewed the main impacts of lipids on the nuclear environment, emphasizing its role on chromatin dynamics and gene expression. We postulated that lipids that bind to nucleosomes and affects chromatin states are likely to be worth investigating as tools to modify disease phenotypes at a molecular level Support or Funding Information none Small lipid compounds that potentially bind nucleosome at common sites to cholesterol. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.