Histone Variants and Histone Modifications in Neurogenesis

• Published in: Trends in cell biology Vol. 30; no. 11; pp. 869 - 880
• Main Authors: Zhang, Mengtian, Zhao, Jinyue, Lv, Yuqing, Wang, Wenwen, Feng, Chao, Zou, Wenzheng, Su, Libo, Jiao, Jianwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: 3D genome; Brain; Cell fate; Central nervous system; chromatin remodeling; Crosstalk; Embryogenesis; epigenetic regulation; Epigenetics; Gene expression; Gene regulation; Genomes; Histones; neural stem cell; Neural stem cells; Neurogenesis; Post-translation; Stem cells; chromatin remodeling; 3D genome; neural stem cell; epigenetic regulation
• ISSN: 0962-8924; 1879-3088
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.09.003

During embryonic brain development, neurogenesis requires the orchestration of gene expression to regulate neural stem cell (NSC) fate specification. Epigenetic regulation with specific emphasis on the modes of histone variants and histone post-translational modifications are involved in interactive gene regulation of central nervous system (CNS) development. Here, we provide a broad overview of the regulatory system of histone variants and histone modifications that have been linked to neurogenesis and diseases. We also review the crosstalk between different histone modifications and discuss how the 3D genome affects cell fate dynamics during brain development. Understanding the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in neurogenesis has shifted the paradigm from single gene regulation to synergistic interactions to ensure healthy embryonic neurogenesis. Mammalian neurogenesis is a dynamically regulated process with diverse factors. Epigenetic mechanisms, including histone variants and histone modifications, are involved in the expression of many genes to regulate central nervous system (CNS) dynamics.Histone variants are nonallelic isoforms of core histones that incorporate into nucleosomes and regulate the dynamic changes necessary for neurogenesis.Histone modifications can be dynamically regulated by sets of enzymes that act as epigenetic marks to support cell fate decisions and ensure robust embryonic neurogenesis.The interactions of histone variants and histone modifications are typically characterized in chromatin states that have important roles in the memory and switching of gene expression states during brain development.Hi-C-based high-throughput chromatin conformation capture techniques provide important insights into 3D genome architecture. Multiple factors, such as A/B compartment changes, heterochromatin organization, and enhancer–promoter interactions, affect chromatin interaction dynamics in neuronal development.