How metabolism and chromatin control gene activity in the intestine
Integration of metabolism and chromatin in regulating gene expression in vivo
This project looks at how small molecules from diet and gut microbes change chemical tags on DNA-packaging proteins to alter gene activity in intestinal cells, with implications for cancer and gut health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247953 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the researchers are mapping chemical tags called histone acylations that sit on the proteins packaging DNA and seeing how those tags change when the gut environment shifts. They will use living mammal models and laboratory assays to compare different acyl marks, track which genes turn on or off, and link those changes to cell behavior in the intestine. The team will manipulate levels of short-chain fatty acids (molecules made by gut microbes from fiber) and other metabolic cues to see how external inputs shift chromatin and tissue function. Results aim to show which specific acyl marks matter in which tissues and how those marks might drive cellular phenotypes relevant to disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with intestinal conditions such as colorectal cancer or other diseases linked to the gut microbiome would be the most relevant patient group for future clinical follow-up, although the project mainly uses laboratory models.
Not a fit: Patients without intestinal disease or whose conditions are unrelated to chromatin or microbiome-driven metabolism are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to change gut cell behavior or cancer risk by targeting diet, the microbiome, or drugs that modify histone marks.
How similar studies have performed: Key ideas like histone acetylation regulating gene activity are well established, but the roles of many other histone acylations in living tissues are novel and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gates, Leah Ashley — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Gates, Leah Ashley
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.