scRNA-seq analysis of intestinal gene expression in mice under methionine, tryptophan, and niacin-deficient diets

Emerging evidence suggests that selective nutrient restriction can confer metabolic benefits. While limitations of methionine and branched-chain amino acids have been shown to enhance metabolism and alter the gut microbiota, the roles of other nutrients remain less defined. In this study, we investigate the effects of transient dietary restriction of methionine, tryptophan, and niacin, and demonstrate that these deficiencies induce marked changes in intestinal gene expression at the single-cell level. Overall design: BALB/c mice were fed either a control diet or a diet deficient in methionine, tryptophan, and niacin (MTNR) for 13 days. Following the dietary intervention, we performed single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to assess gene expression changes in the intestine. We also performed scRNA-seq analysis of intestinal gene expression in mice that had been returned to a normal diet for two days following dietary restriction (rMTNR).