Short chain fatty acids regulate tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression through a cAMP-dependent signaling pathway
Abstract
Multiple intracellular and extracellular regulatory factors affect transcription of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene encoding the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Short chain fatty acids like butyrate are known to alter TH gene expression, but the mechanism of action is unknown. In this report, transient transfection assays identified the proximal TH promoter to contain sufficient genetic information to confer butyrate responsiveness to a reporter gene. Deletion studies and gel shift analyses revealed that the promoter region spanning the cAMP response element is an absolute requirement for transcriptional activation by butyrate. The branched short chain fatty acid valproate is used for seizure control in humans. Significantly, it has a similar aliphatic structure to butyrate, and it was found to have similar effects on TH in PC12 cells. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated that the effects of both fatty acids were mediated through the canonical CRE. Butyrate treatment also resulted in CREB phosphorylation without changing CREB protein levels. The increased phosphorylation of CREB correlated with accumulation of TH mRNA. The adenylate cyclase inhibitor dideoxyadenosine blocked both CREB phosphorylation and accumulation of TH mRNA. The data are consistent with the conclusion that butyrate induces post-translational modifications of pre-existing CREB molecules in a cAMP/PKA-dependent manner to alter TH transcription. These results support the role of butyrate as a novel exogenous regulatory factor in TH gene expression. Our data delineate a molecular mechanism through which diet-derived environmental signals (e.g. butyrate) can modulate catecholaminergic systems by affecting TH gene transcription.
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SCFAs are involved in neurotransmitter production.
“Additionally, SCFAs are involved in neurotransmitter production [75] and neuroprotection and can penetrate the blood–brain barrier [76]; therefore, they have been proposed as potential novel antidepressants [77].”
From Flavonoid-rich orange juice intake and altered gut microbiome in young adults with depressive symptom: a randomized controlled study (2020) · cites this paper as [75]
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- Authors
- DeCastro, M., Nankova, B. B., Shah, P., Patel, P., Mally, P. V., Mishra, R., & La Gamma, E. F.
- Affiliations
- Westchester Medical Center (US)
- Venue
- Molecular Brain Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-12
- Volume
- 142
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 28-38
- ISSN
- 0169-328X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1980050771
- Cited by
- 149
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 0.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Molecular Brain Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- short-chain fatty acids, butyrate, valproic acid, tyrosine hydroxylase, gene expression regulation, cAMP response element, CREB phosphorylation, cAMP/PKA signaling, dopamine synthesis, catecholaminergic system, PC12 cells
- MeSH terms
- Cyclic AMP, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Butyrates, Enzyme Inhibitors, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Luciferases, Phosphorylation, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Time Factors, Transfection, Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase, Valproic Acid, Blotting, Northern, Blotting, Western, Signal Transduction, Gene Expression, Mutagenesis, Site-Directed, PC12 Cells, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay, Rats
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