A possible role for G-quadruplexes formation and DNA methylation at IMOOD gene promoter in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Published in: Advances in biological regulation Vol. 89; p. 100976
• Main Authors: Sabatucci, Annalaura, Girella, Antonio, Di Bartolomeo, Martina, Pucci, Mariangela, Vismara, Matteo, Benatti, Beatrice, Blacksell, Isobel Alice, Cooper, Dianne, Dainese, Enrico, D'Acquisto, Fulvio, Dell’Osso, Bernardo, D'Addario, Claudio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2023
• Subjects: DNA methylation; G-quadruplex; IMOOD; OCD molecular markers; OCD molecular markers; IMOOD; DNA methylation; G-quadruplex
• ISSN: 2212-4926; 2212-4934; 2212-4934
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2023.100976

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition still classified and diagnosed with subjective interview-based assessments and which molecular clues have not completely been elucidated. We have recently identified a new regulator of anxiety and OCD-like behavior called Immuno-moodulin (IMOOD) and, here, we report that IMOOD gene promoter is differentially methylated in OCD subjects when compared to genomic material collected from healthy controls and this alteration is significantly correlated with the increased expression of the gene in OCD. We also demonstrated that IMOOD promoter can form G-quadruplexes and we suggest that, in homeostatic conditions, these structures could evoke DNA-methylation silencing the gene, whereas in pathological conditions, like OCD, could induce gene expression making the promoter more accessible to transcriptional factors. We here thus further suggest IMOOD as a new biomarker for OCD and also hypothesize new mechanisms of gene regulation. •Imood promoter is differentially methylated in OCD subjects.•Imood differential methylation is correlated with an increased expression in OCD.•Imood differentially methylated CpG site is situated in a G4.•G4s and CpG methylation on Imood promoter have a possible role on OCD onset.