Coordinated effects of sequence variation on DNA binding, chromatin structure, and transcription.

DNA sequence variation has been associated with quantitative changes in molecular phenotypes such as gene expression, but its impact on chromatin states is poorly characterized. To understand the interplay between chromatin and genetic control of gene regulation, we quantified allelic variability in transcription factor binding, histone modifications, and gene expression within humans. We found abundant allelic specificity in chromatin and extensive local, short-range, and long-range allelic coordination among the studied molecular phenotypes. We observed genetic influence on most of these phenotypes, with histone modifications exhibiting strong context-dependent behavior. Our results implicate transcription factors as primary mediators of sequence-specific regulation of gene expression programs, with histone modifications frequently reflecting the primary regulatory event

Transforming growth factor beta in human milk does not change in response to modest intakes of docosahexaenoic acid

The original publication can be found at www.springerlink.comLong-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have been associated with aspects of immune regulation including cytokine production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal dietary supplementation with tuna oil, rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on the concentration of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) and TGFβ2 in breast milk. In this randomized, dietary intervention trial, mothers of term infants consumed a daily supplement of 2000 mg oil containing either placebo (n = 40), 300 mg DHA (n = 40), or 600 mg DHA (n = 40). The DHA increase in milk and plasma was proportional to dietary DHA. There was no relationship between milk DHA status and TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 levels