Lactylation: a Passing Fad or the Future of Posttranslational Modification

• Published in: Inflammation Vol. 45; no. 4; pp. 1419 - 1429
• Main Authors: Xin, Qi, Wang, Hai, Li, Qinglin, Liu, Sinan, Qu, Kai, Liu, Chang, Zhang, Jingyao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenosine triphosphate; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cell activation; Gene expression; Glycolysis; Histones; Histones - metabolism; Humans; Hypoxia; Immunology; Inflammation; Internal Medicine; Kinases; Lactates; Lactic acid; Macrophage Activation; Macrophages; Mammals; Metabolism; Metabolites; Pathology; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Physiology; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Proteins; Review; Rheumatology; gene transcription; cancer; lactate; lactylation; inflammation; posttranslational modification
• ISSN: 0360-3997; 1573-2576; 1573-2576
• DOI: 10.1007/s10753-022-01637-w

Lactate is a glycolytic product and a significant energy source. Moreover, it regulates gene transcription via lactylation of histones and non-histone proteins, i.e., a novel posttranslational modification. This review summarizes recent advances related to lactylation in lactate metabolism and diseases. Notably, lactylation plays a vital role in cancer, inflammation, and regeneration; however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. Histone lactylation regulates oncogenic processes by targeting gene transcription and inflammation via macrophage activation. Eventually, we identified research gaps and recommended several primary directions for further studies.