In Vivo Metabolic Tracing Demonstrates the Site-Specific Contribution of Hepatic Ethanol Metabolism to Histone Acetylation.

Background: Epigenetic dysregulation through ethanol (EtOH)-induced changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications has been implicated in several alcohol-related disorders such as alcoholic liver disease. EtOH metabolism in the liver results in the formation of acetate, a metabolite that can be converted to acetyl-CoA, which can then be used by histone acetyltransferases to acetylate lysine residues. EtOH metabolism in the liver can also indirectly influence lysine acetylation through NAD -dependent sirtuin activity that is altered due to increases in NADH.