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Methionine restriction fundamentally supports health by tightening epithelial barriers
Author(s) -
Mullin James M.,
Skrovanek Sonja M.,
Ramalingam Arivudainambi,
DiGuilio Katherine M.,
Valenzano Mary C.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.12955
Subject(s) - gastrointestinal tract , epithelium , tight junction , microbiology and biotechnology , kidney , methionine , barrier function , organism , lung , function (biology) , biology , chemistry , amino acid , biochemistry , medicine , endocrinology , genetics
Dietary methionine restriction (MR) has been found to affect one of the most primary tissue‐level functions of an organism: the efficiency with which the epithelial linings of major organs separate the fluid compartments that they border. This process, epithelial barrier function, is basic for proper function of all organs, including the lung, liver, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive tract, blood–brain barrier, and kidney. Specifically, MR has been found to modify the protein composition of tight junctional complexes surrounding individual epithelial cells in a manner that renders the complexes less leaky. This has been observed in both a renal epithelial cell culture model and in gastrointestinal tissue. In both cases, MR increased the transepithelial electrical resistance across the epithelium, while decreasing passive leak of small nonelectrolytes. However, the specific target protein modifications involved were unique to each case. Overall, this provides an example of the primary level on which MR functions to modify, and improve, an organism.