Applications from minority individuals and women are encouraged. This announcement is intended to stimulate research on dietary factors and related metabolic interactions that have direct or indirect nutrient influence on specific gene regulation and expression. This would require interdisciplinary efforts focusing on interactions of nutrition, molecular biology, and metabolism. Recent studies indicate that this is an emerging area, rich with opportunities, but in need of additional support for further development of research efforts It appears that nutritional factors, e.g., various vitamins regulated via dietary intake can interact with other regulatory networks, such as tissue-specific, developmental, and hormonal factors, as well as dietary fat or carbohydrate, to regulate gene expression. Other studies have demonstrated regulation of apoprotein gene expression by sucrose-rich diet, nutritional regulation of gene expression in lipogenesis, and suppression of fatty acid synthase transcription by polyunsaturated fatty acids.
More advanced studies focus on dietary protein control of intestinal hormone gene expression.
Significant regulation appears to be at the level of transcription, with controlled modulation of messenger RNA levels. However, basic mechanisms underlying the influence of dietary factors and related metabolites on gene transcription need further study. In addition to studies focusing on mechanisms controlling gene regulation by dietary factors, support is also needed for work on the interactions between genetic factors and nutrition. This may be critical in evaluating outcomes of dietary therapy regimens. This policy is intended to apply to males and females of all ages.