“…We have proposed an alternate function for a-tocopherol, specifically that of a 'regulator of gene expression' (Marilley et al, 1996;Fazzio et al, 1997;Azzi et al, 1998b). This function, independent of the radical chain-breaking ability attributed to tocopherols, has been confirmed in a number of experiments, both in vitro and ex vivo (Prasad et al, 1990(Prasad et al, , 1993Houglum et al, 1991;Stauble et al, 1994;Marilley et al, 1996;Fazzio et al, 1997;Chojkier et al, 1998;Aratri et al, 1999;Ricciarelli et al, 2000;Davies et al, 2001;Fischer et al, 2001a;Gysin et al, 2002;Gohil et al, 2003;Landes et al, 2003). This may either result from the regulation of gene transcription or from affecting mRNA or protein stability.…”