Bindings of ChREBP and SREBP1, and histone acetylation around the rat liver fatty acid synthase gene are associated with induction of the gene during the suckling-weaning transition.

It has been reported that the enzymic activity of fatty acid synthase (Fas) in rat liver increases during suckling-weaning transition. In this study, we investigated whether induction of the gene (Fasn) in the rat liver during the suckling-weaning transition is regulated by histone acetylation, and the nuclear transcription factors carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1). We observed that levels of Fas and Fasn increased during suckling-weaning transition. Binding levels of ChREBP and SREBP1 to upstream regions of Fasn increased during the suckling-weaning transition. Acetylation of histones H3 and H4 around Fasn increased during the transient period. Our results suggest that induction of liver Fasn during the suckling-weaning transition is closely associated with increased levels of ChREBP and SREBP1 binding, and acetylation of histones H3 and H4 around the gene.