Impact of food on epigenetic modifications

Diplomska naloga obravnava področje nutriepigenetike, ki vključuje vpliv hrane in njenih komponent na epigenetske spremembe, kot so metilacija deoksiribonukleinske kisline, metilacija in demetilacija histonov, acetilacija in deacetilacija histonov ter izražanje nekodirajočih molekul ribonukleinske kisline. Hrana in njene komponente vplivajo na epigenetske spremembe na različne načine. Lahko predstavljajo vir substrata za acetilacijo in metilacijo, lahko so kofaktorji, potrebni za delovanje encimov, ki sodelujejo pri epigenetskih spremembah ali pri pridobivanju substrata, ali pa vplivajo na aktivnost in izražanje encimov, ki so odgovorni za epigenetske spremembe. Vsi ti vplivi niso vedno neposredni, temveč so lahko tudi posredni. Na epigenetske spremembe pa ne vplivajo samo konkretne komponente hrane, ampak tudi zgolj zmanjšan ali povečan vnos kalorij.The thesis deals with the field of nutriepigenetics, which covers the effect of food and its components on epigenetic modifications such as methylation of deoxyribonucleic acid, methylation and demethylation of histones, acetylation and deacetylation of histones, and expression of non-coding molecules of ribonucleic acid. Food and its components affect epigenetic modifications in various ways. They can be a source of substrate for acetylation and methylation. Food and its components can be also cofactors which are necessary for the activity of enzymes involved in these epigenetic modifications or in the production of the substrate. Additionally, they can affect the activity and expression of enzymes that are responsible for epigenetic modifications. All these impacts can be either direct or indirect. However not only specific components of food have impact on epigenetic modifications, but also reduction or increase of calorie intake