Define Role of polyunsaturated fatty acids - Gene Expression?
In contrast, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) inhibit G6PD in both intact animals and in primary hepatocytes in culture. The inhibition occurs in rats switched from a high-carbohydrate fat-free diet to one with PUFA and when starved rats are re-fed a high-carbohydrate diet supplemented with PUFA. Addition of saturated fatty acids or monounsaturated fatty acids does not inhibit G6PD activity. The inhibitory effect of PLFA is unique to G6PD activity in the liver. PUFA in the diet do not affect the enzyme activity in the adipose tissue.
The available evidence suggests that the regulation of G6PD gene expression by nutritional and hormonal factors occurs at the post-transcriptional step. The abundance of G6PD RNA appears to be regulated during the processing of the nascent transcript, Steps that involve either splicing or polyadenylation of the pre-mRNA. Re-feeding enhances the efficiency of splicing and increase polyadenylation.