Sodium butyrate explained

Sodium butyrate is a compound with formula Na(C₃H₇COO). It is the sodium salt of butyric acid. It has various effects on cultured mammalian cells including inhibition of proliferation, induction of differentiation and induction or repression of gene expression.^[1] As such, it can be used in lab to bring about any of these effects. Specifically, butyrate treatment of cells results in histone hyperacetylation, and butyrate itself inhibits class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity,^[2] specifically HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, and butyrate can be used in determining histone deacetylene in chromatin structure and function. Inhibition of HDAC activity is estimated to affect the expression of only 2% of mammalian genes.^[3]

In the lab, sodium butyrate is usually found as a white, water-soluble, crystalline solid. The chemical is notable for having a very strong, unpleasant smell that lingers.^[4] When working with sodium butyrate, gloves, eye protection and respiratory masks are advised for safety purposes.^[5]

The compound is found in human diet, notably produced in large amounts from dietary fiber in the gut and present in Parmesan cheese and butter.^[6] Nevertheless, the most common source of sodium butyrate in the gut is from consumption of legumes.^[7]

See also

• Butyric acid

Further reading

• 21593570 . 2011 . Govindarajan . Nambirajan . Agis-Balboa . Roberto Carlos . Walter . Jonas . Sananbenesi . Farahnaz . Fischer . André . Sodium Butyrate Improves Memory Function in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model When Administered at an Advanced Stage of Disease Progression . 26 . 1 . 187–97 . 10.3233/JAD-2011-110080 . Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Notes and References

1. 10.1007/BF00222695 . Effects of sodium butyrate, a new pharmacological agent, on cells in culture . 1981 . Kruh . Jacques . Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry . 42 . 2 . 6174854 . 65–82. 24214720 .
2. 10.1016/0092-8674(78)90305-7 . Sodium butyrate inhibits histone deacetylation in cultured cells . 1978 . Candido . E . Cell . 14 . 105–13 . 667927 . Reeves . Raymond . Davie . James R. . 1. 33206068 .
3. 12840228 . 2003 . Davie . James R. . Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase Activity by Butyrate . 133 . 7 Suppl . 2485S–2493S . The Journal of Nutrition . 10.1093/jn/133.7.2485s . free .
4. Web site: Sodium butanoate 156-54-7. Chemicalbook.com. 2016-05-31.
5. Web site: Sodium butyrate ≥98.5% (GC) Sigma-Aldrich. Sigmaaldrich.com. 2016-05-31.
6. Sodium Butyrate Stimulates Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 in Liver by Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase 3. Huating. Li. Zhanguo. Gao. Jin. Zhang. Xin. Ye. Aimin. Xu. Jianping. Ye. Weiping. Jia. 1 April 2012. Diabetes. 61. 4. 797–806. 27 November 2021. diabetes.diabetesjournals.org. 10.2337/db11-0846. 3314370 . 22338096.
7. Web site: Want Great Longevity and Health? It Takes a Village. Dan. Buettner. 22 May 2015. 27 November 2021. Wsj.com.