Figure 1.

Metabolites – active modulators of gene and protein activity. Metabolites actively control protein activity via allosteric regulation of transmembrane receptors and transcription factors, as enzyme co-factors and co-substrates in the catalysis of biochemical reactions, and via post-translational modifications. They also significantly influence RNA metabolism via sensing (small molecule ligands are sensed by riboswitches) and post-transcriptional modifications. Moreover, it is well known that metabolites serve as signaling molecules to control transcription factors and thus gene expression. Finally as co-factors and co-substrates of chromatin modifying enzymes they are actively involved in epigenetic regulation.