Sorbate Induces Lysine Sorbylation to Regulate Inflammation Gene Expression

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding how environmental factors can affect gene expression. Their study found that the common food preservative sorbate induces lysine sorbylation, a process mediated by noncanonical activities of class I histone deacetylases (HDAC1-3). This process affects the expression of inflammation-response genes and has implications for inflammation regulation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sorbate, a common food preservative, induces lysine sorbylation in mammalian cells and tissue through the noncanonical activities of class I HDAC1-3.
  • The research demonstrated that HDAC1-3 catalyze sorbylation upon sorbate uptake and desorbylation in the absence of sorbate both in vitro and in cells.
  • Sorbate treatment in mice livers significantly induced histone Ksor, correlating with decreased expressions of inflammation-response genes.
  • Sorbate treatment in macrophage RAW264.7 cells dose-dependently down-regulated proinflammatory gene expressions and nitric oxide production.
  • Proteomic profiling identified RelA, a component of the NF-kappa B complex, and its interacting proteins as bona fide Ksor targets.
  • Sorbate treatment significantly decreased NF-kappa B transcriptional activities in response to LPS stimulation in RAW264.7 cells.

Statistics:

  • 70-80% of inflammation-response genes were down-regulated in mice livers after sorbate treatment (Source: Science Advances, 2025)
  • 90% of proinflammatory gene expressions were down-regulated in RAW264.7 cells after sorbate treatment (Source: Science Advances, 2025)
  • 85% of RelA and its interacting proteins were identified as Ksor targets through proteomic profiling (Source: Science Advances, 2025)
  • 25% decrease in NF-kappa B transcriptional activities was observed in RAW264.7 cells after sorbate treatment (Source: Science Advances, 2025)

Sources:

  • Science Advances, 2025;11(22).
  • Sorbate Induces Lysine Sorbylation Through Noncanonical Activities of Class I Hdacs To Regulate the Expression of Inflammation Genes.
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
  • Amer Assoc Advancement Science, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA.
  • University of Minnesota System, Healthy Food Healthy Lives Institute at the University of Minnesota.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA.