Brain function and chromatin plasticity

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 465; no. 7299; pp. 728 - 735
• Main Author: Dulac, Catherine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 10.06.2010; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/337/100/102; 631/337/176; 631/337/458; 631/443/376; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Brain - cytology; Brain - metabolism; Brain - physiology; Chromatin; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly - genetics; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly - physiology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA Methylation; Embryonic development; Gene expression; Genetics; Genomic Imprinting; Health aspects; Histones - metabolism; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Inheritance Patterns; multidisciplinary; Neuronal Plasticity - genetics; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neurons; Proteins; review-article; Rodents; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/nature09231

The characteristics of epigenetic control, including the potential for long-lasting, stable effects on gene expression that outlive an initial transient signal, could be of singular importance for post-mitotic neurons, which are subject to changes with short- to long-lasting influence on their activity and connectivity. Persistent changes in chromatin structure are thought to contribute to mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance. Recent advances in chromatin biology offer new avenues to investigate regulatory mechanisms underlying long-lasting changes in neurons, with direct implications for the study of brain function, behaviour and diseases.