Methylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 and expression of the maltase-glucoamylase gene are reduced by dietary resistant starch

Sustained effects of resistant starch on the expression of genes related to carbohydrate digestion/absorption in the small intestine

Resistant starch (RS) consumption has beneficial effects on health, such as reduced postprandial blood glucose levels. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a 14-day diet containing RS on α-glucosidase activity and the expression of genes related to carbohydrate digestion/absorption in rats. We examined whether the effects of RS persist when the rats were shifted to a control diet. The results suggest that RS consumption reduces α-glucosidase activity and Mgam, Si and Sglt1 mRNA levels in the proximal jejunum. In addition, RS consumption appeared to influence the serum GIP level, up to 2 days after the animals were shifted to a control diet. To our knowledge, this is the first report that RS has a sustained effect on gut hormone expression and the expression of genes related to carbohydrate digestion/absorption in the proximal jejunum.

Molecular Regulations of Mucosal Maltase Expressions

Two major α-glucosidase (maltase) genes, sucrase-isomaltase (SI) and maltase-glucoamylase (MGAM), respectively, are expressed in the small intestine. In this review, we have summarized whether jejunal expression of these maltase genes is regulated by dietary manipulations, which may affect carbohydrate availability from the luminal side, through changes in the binding of transcription factors and/or histone code on these genes. Studies using a model of mice fed either a low-starch or a high-starch diet for 7 days, found the mRNA levels of SI, MGAM, and Na-glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) genes in the jejunum to be increased in parallel by feeding a high-starch diet. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, using jejunal tissue of mice and rats fed a high-starch diet, revealed that the diet increased the acetylations of histones H3 and H4, bindings of coactivators, including general control of amino acid synthesis (GCN5) and the transcriptional factors, including caudal-related homeobox 2 (CDX2), and hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1), not only in the promoter/enhancer regions, but also in the transcribed regions of SI and MGAM genes. Feeding rats a diet rich in resistant starch led to a concomitant reduction of mRNA levels of the MGAM gene and histone H3 modifications (acetylations and di-/tri-methylations) in the jejunum. These data suggest that a signal elicited by available glucose in the jejunal mucosa is associated with SI and MGAM gene expressions through a histone code, such as acetylation and di-/tri-methylations of histone H3 in the promoter/enhancer and transcribed regions of SI and MGAM genes.

Gut feedback mechanisms and food intake: a physiological approach to slow carbohydrate bioavailability

Glycemic carbohydrates in foods are an important macronutrient providing the biological fuel of glucose for a variety of physiological processes. A classification of glycemic carbohydrates into rapidly digestible carbohydrate (RDC) and slowly digestible carbohydrate (SDC) has been used to specify their nutritional quality related to glucose homeostasis that is essential to normal functioning of the brain and critical to life. Although there have been many studies and reviews on slowly digestible starch (SDS) and SDC, the mechanisms of their slow digestion and absorption were mostly investigated from the material side without considering the physiological processes of their in vivo digestion, absorption, and most importantly interactions with other food components and the gastrointestinal tract. In this article, the physiological processes modulating the bioavailability of carbohydrates, specifically the rate and extent of their digestion and absorption as well as the related locations, in a whole food context, will be discussed by focusing on the activities of the gastrointestinal tract including glycolytic enzymes and glucose release, sugar sensing, gut hormones, and neurohormonal negative feedback mechanisms. It is hoped that a deep understanding of these physiological processes will facilitate the development of innovative dietary approaches to achieve desired carbohydrate or glucose bioavailability for improved health.

Slow digestion property of octenyl succinic anhydride modified waxy maize starch in the presence of tea polyphenols

The in vivo slow digestion property of octenyl succinic anhydride modified waxy corn starch (OSA-starch) in the presence of tea polyphenols (TPLs) was studied. Using a mouse model, the experimental results showed an extended and moderate postprandial glycemic response with a delayed and significantly decreased blood glucose peak of OSA-starch after cocooking with TPLs (5% starch weight base). Further studies revealed an increased hydrodynamic radius of OSA-starch molecules indicating an interaction between OSA-starch and TPLs. Additionally, decreased gelatinization temperature and enthalpy and reduced viscosity and emulsifiability of OSA-starch support their possible complexation to form a spherical OSA-starch-TPLs (OSAT) complex. The moderate and extended postprandial glycemic response is likely caused by decreased activity of mucosal α-glucosidase, which is noncompetitively inhibited by tea catechins released from the complex during digestion. Meanwhile, a significant decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity in small intestine tissue demonstrated the antioxidative functional property of the OSAT complex. Thus, the complex of OSAT, acting as a functional carbohydrate material, not only leads to a flattened and prolonged glycemic response but also reduces the oxidative stress, which might be beneficial to health.

ChREBP binding and histone modifications modulate hepatic expression of the Fasn gene in a metabolic syndrome rat model

OBJECTIVE

Although the expression of hepatic lipogenic genes is enhanced in insulin resistance, the underlying mechanism is unclear. To reveal the details, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the expression of hepatic lipogenic genes are mediated by epigenetic regulation and specific transcription factors in an insulin resistance model of rats.

METHODS

Using a rat model of insulin resistance (SHR/NDmc-cp), we investigated the relationship between hepatic expression of the lipogenic gene fatty-acid synthase (Fasn), binding of the transcription factor carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) to the Fasn gene, and histone modifications in the region of the Fasn gene by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTS

Compared with control rats, Fasn mRNA expression and protein levels were higher in the livers of SHR/NDmc-cp rats, as were protein expression levels and Fasn binding of ChREBP and RNA polymerase II. Moreover, compared with the livers of control rats, levels of mono-methylated histone H3 lysine (K) 4 and acetylated histone H4 were higher in the promoter/enhancer region of the Fasn gene in the livers of SHR/NDmc-cp rats. Levels of trimethylated histone H3K4 and acetylated histone H3 were higher in the transcribed region.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that expression of the Fasn gene in the livers of insulin-resistant rats is associated with increased H3K4 methylation, increased histone H3 acetylation, and increased H4 acetylation, and also, binding levels of ChREBP to promoter/enhancer region of Fasn gene is involved in the Fasn gene expression caused by hyperglycemia.

Induction of histone H3K4 methylation at the promoter, enhancer, and transcribed regions of the Si and Sglt1 genes in rat jejunum in response to a high-starch/low-fat diet

OBJECTIVE

Histone methylation patterns are associated with various aspects of biology, including transcriptional regulation. Methylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4) leads to transcriptional activation through recruitment of transcription activation complexes onto target genes; in contrast, methylation of histone H3K9, or histone H4K20, leads to transcriptional inactivation attracting heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1). It is not yet known whether jejunal induction of sucrase-isomaltase (Si) and sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter (Sglt1) genes by intake of a high-starch/low-fat diet in rats is regulated by coordinated changes of these histone methylation events. In the present study, we investigated whether these histone modifications at the promoter, enhancer, and transcribed regions of Si and Sglt1 genes in rat jejunum are affected by consumption of a high-starch/low-fat diet.

METHODS

Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays using antibodies against methylated-histone H3K4, H3K9, H4K20, and HP1 were performed at various regions associated with the Si and Sglt1 genes in jejunum of rats fed a high-starch/low-fat diet or a low-starch/high-fat diet for 7 d.

RESULTS

Feeding rats the high-starch/low-fat diet induced mono-, di-, and trimethylation of histone H3K4 on the promoter and transcribed regions of the Si and Sglt1 genes. In contrast, methylation of histones H3K9 and H4K20, and binding of HP1 at these gene regions, were not affected by the high-starch/low-fat diet.

CONCLUSION

These observations suggest that induction of Si and Sglt1 gene expression in rat jejunum by a high-starch/low-fat diet intake is positively associated with histone H3K4 methylation, but not with histone H3K9/H4K20 methylation, or with binding of HP1.