J Integr Plant Biol.

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Linking cellular metabolism to chromatin modifications in plants

Jaewoong Hwang1 and Pil Joon Seo1,2*   

  1. 1. Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea

    2. Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea

    *Correspondence: Pil Joon Seo (pjseo1@snu.ac.kr)

  • Received:2025-09-01 Accepted:2025-12-30 Online:2026-01-21
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the Basic Science Research (RS‐2025–00517108 to P.J.S.) program of the National Re-search Foundation of Korea.

Abstract: Beyond their traditional roles as biological building blocks and energy sources, metabolites also influence gene expression, exerting direct effects on the epigenetic landscape. For example, core metabolites such as acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) serve as substrates or cofactors for chromatin-modifying enzymes, thereby modulating transcription through the chemical modification of histones and DNA. In addition, metabolites regulate the transcription of the genes encoding these chromatin modifiers, as well as the post-translational modifications and enzymatic activities of these proteins. Therefore, we propose that the metabolic state of a cell or organism is a dynamic and active driver of epigenomic reprogramming, adjusting gene expression in response to fluctuations in the environment.

Key words: allosteric control, chromatin modi?er, DNA methyl-ation, enzyme substrate, epigenetics, histone PTMs, metabolism

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