Regulation of gene expression by carbon dioxide - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

Regulation of gene expression by carbon dioxide

Cormac T Taylor et al. J Physiol. 2011.

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) is a physiological gas found at low levels in the atmosphere and produced in cells during the process of aerobic respiration. Consequently, the levels of CO(2) within tissues are usually significantly higher than those found externally. Shifts in tissue levels of CO(2) (leading to either hypercapnia or hypocapnia) are associated with a number of pathophysiological conditions in humans and can occur naturally in niche habitats such as those of burrowing animals. Clinical studies have indicated that such altered CO(2) levels can impact upon disease progression. Recent advances in our understanding of the biology of CO(2) has shown that like other physiological gases such as molecular oxygen (O(2)) and nitric oxide (NO), CO(2) levels can be sensed by cells resulting in the initiation of physiological and pathophysiological responses. Acute CO(2) sensing in neurons and peripheral and central chemoreceptors is important in rapidly activated responses including olfactory signalling, taste sensation and cardiorespiratory control. Furthermore, a role for CO(2) in the regulation of gene transcription has recently been identified with exposure of cells and model organisms to high CO(2) leading to suppression of genes involved in the regulation of innate immunity and inflammation. This latter, transcriptional regulatory role for CO(2), has been largely attributed to altered activity of the NF-B family of transcription factors. Here, we review our evolving understanding of how CO(2) impacts upon gene transcription.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1. Transcriptional regulation by oxygen and carbon dioxide

Metazoan cells have evolved to be capable of sensing levels of physiological gasses in the microenvironment through highly conserved pathways in the control of gene expression. Acute O2 and CO2 sensing leads to neuronally mediated changes in processes such as respiratory control and olfactory sensation, respectively. Molecular oxygen (O2) is sensed by prolyl and aspariginyl hydroxylases, which confer oxygen-dependent instability upon the HIF transcription factor. Activation of this pathway in hypoxia leads to the expression of adaptive genes. The sensor for regulation of NF-κB-dependent gene expression in response to changes in CO2 has yet to be defined. However, elevated CO2 leads to repression of the NF-κB pathway and decreased levels of genes which promote innate immunity and inflammation.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Amato MB, Barbas CS, Medeiros DM, Magaldi RB, Schettino GP, Lorenzi-Filho G, Kairalla RA, Deheinzelin D, Munoz C, Oliveira R, Takagaki TY, Carvalho CR. Effect of a protective-ventilation strategy on mortality in the acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:347–354. - PubMed
    1. ARDSnet. Ventilation with lower tidal volumes as compared with traditional tidal volumes for acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome. The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network. N Engl J Med. 2000;342:1301–1308. - PubMed
    1. Bandyopadhyay PK, Garrett JE, Shetty RP, Keate T, Walker CS, Olivera BM. Gamma-Glutamyl carboxylation: an extracellular posttranslational modification that antedates the divergence of molluscs, arthropods, and chordates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002;99:1264–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Beerling DJ, Berner RA. Feedbacks and the coevolution of plants and atmospheric CO2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005;102:1302–1305. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Berner RA. The long-term carbon cycle, fossil fuels and atmospheric composition. Nature. 2003;426:323–326. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources