Genomic multi-level nutrient-sensing pathways

Traditionally, the pharmaceutical and natural products industries have looked for products, which affect some biochemical or cellular pathway in either a positive or negative manner. While both industries have enjoyed success with this approach, there is a vast area that as of yet has remained relatively untapped: the genome. The following work explores how both industries can benefit from the burgeoning area of nutrients directed toward the genome. Nutritional supplements capable of altering the integrity, expression, or fidelity of genes are herein referred to collectively as 'genomeceuticals' for their ability to acting on the genome in a manner related to pharmaceuticals acting on biochemical pathways. Central to the paper is the finding that glucosamine can up-regulate the obese (ob) gene by acting on a 'nutrient-sensing' pathway (1). An explanation of how nutrient-sensing pathways might be exploited at the genetic level is presented. Discussion is given to how such genomeceuticals can not just replace substances, which may be missing (e.g., an enzyme diminished by mutation), but actually alter the expression and functionality of gene products in, and resulting from, genomic nutrient-sensing pathways. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.