Host: The Japanese Society of Toxicology
Name : The 49th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Toxicology
Date : June 30, 2022 - July 02, 2022
Functions of many proteins are regulated by post-translational modifications. Among various post-translational modifications, lysine acetylation of histones is one of major post-translational modifications that regulates epigenetic gene expression. In addition to acetylation, diverse lysine acyl modifications of histones are known to be involved in epigenetic regulation. These acyl modifications are, at least in part, caused by the addition of endogenous carboxylic acids to the ε-amino group of lysine residues via chemical reactions within the body. We are exposed daily to various exogenous carboxylic acids with foods such as food additives that include more than 100 types of carboxylic acids. Therefore, it is possible that carboxylic acids derived from food additives that are taken into the body with meals may modify lysine residues in histones and induce changes in gene expression. Indeed, we found that some of food additive carboxylic acids modify histones and changed gene expression. In this presentation, we would like to introduce our efforts to exposome research specializing in food additives and discuss the hidden functions of food additives and their effects on living body.