Vitamin gene expression

Vitamin B6-coenzyme is involved in a variety of reactions, e.g., in the immune system, gluconeogenesis, erythrocyte fimction, niacin formation, nervous system, lipid metabolism, and in hormone modulation/gene expression [1, 2]. 

Azzi A, Gysin R, Kempna P et al (2004) Vitamin E mediates cell signaling and regulation of gene expression. Ann N YAcad Sci 1031 86-95... 

Vitamin D is not strictly a vitamin since it can be synthesized in the skin, and under most conditions that is its major source. Only when sunlight is inadequate is a dietary source required. The main function of vitamin D is in the regulation of calcium absorption and homeostasis most of its actions are mediated by way of nuclear receptors that regulate gene expression. Deficiency—leading to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults—continues to be a problem in northern latitudes, where sunlight exposure is poor. 

Vitamin A (retinol), present in carnivorous diets, and the provitamin (P-carotene), found in plants, form retinaldehyde, utilized in vision, and retinoic acid, which acts in the control of gene expression. Vitamin D is a steroid prohormone yielding the active hormone derivative calcitriol, which regulates calcium and phosphate metaboUsm. Vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets and osteomalacia. 

Parola, M., Muraca, R, Dianzani, I., Barrera, G., Leonarduzzi, G., Bendinelli, P., Piccoletti, K and Poli, G. (1992). Vitamin-E dietary supplementation inhibits transforming growth factor 01 gene expression in the rat liver. FEBS Lett. 308, 267-270. 

McGrane MM. 2007. Vitamin A regulation gene expression molecular mechanism of a prototype gene. J Nutr Biochem 18 497-508. 

Many vitamins or their metabolic derivatives are essential coenzymes for multiple metabolic reactions of life others or their metabolic derivatives are transcription factors, regulating gene expression and, therefore, protein synthesis. 

Vitamin A has a rich associated human physiology. It is associated with vision, regulation of gene expression, reproduction, embryo development, and immune function. We cannot manage all of this but let s get started with vision. 

The family of related compounds known as vitamin A is essential for vision and is an important regulator of gene expression, reproduction, and immune function. 

Nuclear hormone receptors, including those for the principal classes of steroids, retinoids, vitamin D, and thyroid hormones, are transcription factors that influence gene expression. 

Especially focal keratinizing metaplasia, as it may occur after a vitamin A deficiency, is sfrengfhening the assumption of an impairmenf of the differentiation on the level of the gene expression. Since vitamin A regulates the expression of different cytokeratins and therefore influences... 

These results show that retinyl esters in respiratory epithelium and in alveolar cells form a pool of vitamin A, which can be used physiologically by the tissue. The formation of retinol and at least RA from retinyl esters is strictly controlled. So far an unphysiological formation of RA and a subsequent toxicity seems not possible. Retinyl esters, however, are biochemically inert with respect to gene expression or vitamin A activity as long as they are not hydrolyzed. Consequently, the inhalative application, especially in cases of insufficient lung development, could represent a true alternative. The oral contribution is hardly successful because of the poor RBP s)mthesis of the liver and the lack of availability of a parenteral solution is currently not available. 

Retinoids are a family of naturally occurring and synthetic analogues of vitamin A. The skin of subjects deficient in vitamin A becomes hyperplastic and keratotic (phrynoderma, or toad skin). While natural vitamin A is occasionally employed therapeutically, synthetic retinoids are more effective and represent a major advance in dermatological pharmacotherapy. Retinoids have myriad effects on cellular differentiation and proliferation it is likely that nuclear retinoic acid receptors mediate these effects by activating gene expression in a manner analogous to receptors for steroid hormones and thyroid hormones. Despite a common mechanism of action, however, retinoids vary widely in their physiological effects. 

A further, more dramatic difference to the steroid hormone receptors is the localization of the receptors. The receptors for the retinoids (RAR and RXR, see table 4.1), the T3 hormone (T3R) and vitamin D3 (VDR) are mainly localized in the nucleus and their activity is not controlled by the heat shock proteins. The receptors also bind the corresponding HRE in the absence of hormone, in which case they can then act as repressors of gene activity. In the presence of the hormone an activation of gene expression is usually observed. 

FIGURE 12-40 General mechanism by which steroid and thyroid hormones, retinoids, and vitamin D regulate gene expression. The details of transcription and protein synthesis are discussed in Chapters 26 and 27. At least some steroids also act through plasma membrane receptors by a completely different mechanism. 

Steroid, vitamin D, retinoid, and thyroid hormones enter target cells and alter gene expression by interacting with specific nuclear receptors. 

The D vitamins are a group of sterols that have a hormone-like funciion. The active molecule, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25 diOH D3), binds to intracellular receptor proteins. The 1,25-diOH D3-receptor complex interacts with DNA in the nucleus of target cells in a manner simiar to that of vitamin A (see Figure 28.20), and either selectively stimulates gene expression, or specifically represses gene transcription. The most prominent actions of 1,25-diOH D3 are to regulate the plasma levels of calcium and phosphorus. 

Vitamin A Retinol Retinal Retinoic acid p-Carotene Retinol Retinal Retinoic acid FAT-SOLUBLE Maintenance of reproduction Vision Promotion of growth Differentiation and maintenance of epithelial tissues Gene expression... 

Vitamin A (retinol, retinal, retinoic acid—the three active forms of vitamin A, and p-carotene) function in the maintenance of reproduction, vision, promotion of growth, differen tiation and maintenance of epithelial tissues, and gene expression. A deficiency of vitamin A results in impotence, night blindness, retardation of growth, and xerophthalmia. Large amounts of vitamin A are toxic and can result in an increased incidence of frac tures. 

Why do we need vitamins Early clues came in 1935 when nicotinamide was found in NAD+ by H. von Euler and associates and in NADP+ by Warburg and Christian. Two years later, K. Lohman and P. Schuster isolated pure cocarboxylase, a dialyz-able material required for decarboxylation of pyruvate by an enzyme from yeast. It was shown to be thiamin diphosphate (Fig. 15-3). Most of the water-soluble vitamins are converted into coenzymes or are covalently bound into active sites of enzymes. Some lipid-soluble vitamins have similar functions but others, such as vitamin D and some metabolites of vitamin A, act more like hormones, binding to receptors that control gene expression or other aspects of metabolism. 

Dietary vitamin A is stored in the liver and secreted into the bloodstream when needed. The circulating retinol is taken up by target cells and oxidized in part to retinoic acid, which induces the synthesis of proteins through the direct control of gene expression. This type of action—gene activation—establishes vitamin A (in the form of its metabolite, retinoic acid) as a hormone, similar to the steroid hormones and the thyroid hormone. 

Phosphorus, vitamin D, and calcium are all needed for bone health (Huth et al., 2006) and selenium has a role in the immune and antioxidant systems and in DNA synthesis and repair. Zinc is necessary for DNA repair, cell growth, gene expression, and is an essential part of some enzymes and metalloproteins. Magnesium has been implicated in the prevention of CVDs (Haug et al., 2007). For example, it is known that calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium may mediate beneficial effects on... 

Vitamin Vitamin A [retinol] RDA/AI Men 900 pg/d Women 700 pg/d Physiological function Required for normal vision, gene expression, reproduction, embryonic development, and immune function Adverse Effects of Excessive Consumption Teratological effects liver toxicity... 

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