Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Characterizing Histone Post-translational Modification Alterations in Yeast Neurodegenerative Proteinopathy Models
Published on: March 24, 2019
Histone deacetylase gene variants predict brain volume changes in multiple sclerosis.
Becky Inkster1, Eva M M Strijbis, Maria Vounou
1Department of Medicine, Centre for Neuroscience, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK. bi212@medschl.cam.ac.uk
This study links specific genetic variants (SNPs) to brain volume differences in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. These findings highlight the role of histone deacetylase genes in MS and neurodegeneration.
Area of Science:
- Neurogenetics
- Neuroimaging
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Neuroimaging measures are crucial for detecting genetic variants linked to diseases.
- Epigenetics is an emerging area of study in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the predictive value of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on neuroimaging measures in MS patients.
- To explore the role of epigenetics in MS by focusing on SNPs in regulatory genes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized advanced multivariate regression on a cohort of 326 MS patients.
- Focused SNP selection on key epigenetic regulatory genes.
Main Results:
- Identified specific SNPs (rs2522129, rs2675231, rs2389963) with high predictive value for brain volume differences.
- These SNPs are located in histone deacetylase genes, relevant to MS, neurodegeneration, and aging.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary findings suggest a link between histone deacetylase gene variants and brain structure in MS.
- These results generate hypotheses for future studies in MS and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Related Concept Videos
Histone Variants at the Centromere
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Histone Modification
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...
