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A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia

A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia

Published on: June 15, 2011

Epigenetics of schizophrenia.

Schahram Akbarian¹

¹Department of Psychiatry, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01604, USA. schahram.akbarian@umassmed.edu

Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences

|February 12, 2011

Summary

Epigenetic changes like DNA methylation and histone modifications are linked to schizophrenia. Studying these epigenetic marks in brain tissue may reveal genetic risk factors for schizophrenia.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Epigenetic regulation, including DNA cytosine methylation and posttranslational histone modifications, influences gene expression.
Aberrant epigenetic modifications in the prefrontal cortex are observed in individuals with schizophrenia, correlating with altered RNA expression.
Epigenetic marks are crucial during early development, suggesting a neurodevelopmental role in schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of epigenetic regulators in the molecular alterations associated with schizophrenia.
To investigate the potential impact of antipsychotic drugs on chromatin remodeling mechanisms.

Main Methods:

Analysis of DNA and histone modifications in chromatin from schizophrenia patients and control brain tissue.

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Examination of gene and promoter methylation patterns in the prefrontal cortex.

Main Results:

Abnormal DNA and histone methylation at specific genes and promoters are associated with altered RNA expression in schizophrenia.
Evidence suggests some antipsychotic drugs, like Clozapine, may interact with chromatin remodeling.

Conclusions:

Despite challenges in cell specificity and understanding epigenetic stability, studying epigenetic modifications in brain chromatin offers valuable insights into schizophrenia's genomic risk architecture.
This research is particularly important for cases where genetic causes are not immediately apparent.