Dynamic DNA methylation in the brain: a new epigenetic mark for experience-dependent plasticity

Abstract

Experience-dependent plasticity is the ability of brain circuits to undergo molecular, structural and functional changes as a function of neural activity. Neural activity continuously shapes our brain during all the stages of our life, from infancy through adulthood and beyond. Epigenetic modifications of histone proteins and DNA seem to be a leading molecular mechanism to modulate the transcriptional changes underlying the fine-tuning of synaptic connections and circuitry rewiring during activity-dependent plasticity. The recent discovery that cytosine methylation is an epigenetic mark particularly dynamic in brain cells has strongly increased the interest of neuroscientists in understanding the role of covalent modifications of DNA in activity-induced remodeling of neuronal circuits. Here, we provide an overview of the role of DNA methylation and hydroxylmethylation in brain plasticity both during adulthood, with emphasis on learning and memory related processes, and during postnatal development, focusing specifically on experience-dependent plasticity in the visual cortex.

Mitochondrial Genomic Backgrounds Affect Nuclear DNA Methylation and Gene Expression

“…We chose to study brain because it has abundant mitochondria (47) and because epigenetic modifications in brain tissues have already been implicated in modulating transcriptional changes that are important for synaptic connections and circuitry rewiring (28, 48). Our studies were performed using cerebella harvested at eight weeks of age.…”

The role of DNA methylation in the pathophysiology and treatment of bipolar disorder

“…Of note, particular roles for the oxidized forms of 5mC are only starting to be understood. The levels of 5hmC are very high in the central nervous system, which led to the hypothesis that hydroxyl methylation might play a role in the epigenetic control of neuronal function (Tognini et al, 2015). In addition, 5hmC is quite abundant in gene bodies and promoter regions of active genes, and evidence shows that MeCP2 can bind to it with an affinity comparable to 5mC (Spruijt et al, 2013).…”

Effect of Clozapine on DNA Methylation in Peripheral Leukocytes from Patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia

“…DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that plays a critical role in brain function [7,8]. DNA methylation mainly occurs at the 5′ position of the cytosine base followed by a guanine base that is called CpG [9].…”