Consuming phytic acid, a compound found in certain plant foods, may help maintain the integrity of the intestinal lining by influencing specific epigenetic mechanisms involving HDAC3.
Mechanism
Synthesis from 3 studies
Eating foods with phytic acid helps keep your gut lining sealed by turning off enzymes that break apart the connections between gut cells. This happens because phytic acid activates a protein that silences the genes producing those damaging enzymes, keeping the barrier intact.
Most probable mechanism
When you eat foods with phytic acid, it enters the gut and binds to a protein called HDAC3, which then turns off genes that make enzymes that break down the glue holding gut cells together. This keeps the gut lining tight and prevents leakage.
Phytic acid is absorbed in the intestine and reaches intestinal epithelial cells at concentrations sufficient to bind directly to HDAC3.
Phytic acid binding induces a conformational change in HDAC3 that enables recruitment of the DAD domain of the NCoR1/2 corepressor complex, activating HDAC3's deacetylase function.
Activated HDAC3 removes acetyl groups from histone H4 at lysine 16 at the promoter regions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes.
Deacetylation of histone H4K16 suppresses transcription of MMP genes, including MMP1, MMP3, MMP10, and MMP13.
Reduced MMP enzyme production prevents degradation of tight junction proteins such as ZO-1 and occludin.
Preserved tight junction proteins maintain low paracellular permeability, restoring the physical barrier of the intestinal epithelium.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (3)
Community contributions welcome
Phytic acid (InsP6) activates HDAC3 epigenetic axis to maintain intestinal barrier function
Phytic acid (InsP6) activates HDAC3 epigenetic axis to maintain intestinal barrier function
Phytic Acid (InsP6) Activates HDAC3 Epigenetic Axis to Maintain Intestinal Barrier Function
Contradicting (0)
Community contributions welcome
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