Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
11:31
Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
Published on: November 30, 2015
15.8K
Understanding posttraumatic stress disorder: insights from the methylome
S Malan-Müller1, S Seedat, S M J Hemmings
1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
Genes, Brain, and Behavior
|November 30, 2013
Summary
Epigenetics, particularly DNA methylation, plays a crucial role in how environmental factors influence psychiatric disorders like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding these epigenetic changes is key to developing effective treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identify disease variants but explain little heritability for complex disorders.
- Research is shifting towards rare variants, copy number variants, and epigenetic modifications to explain missing heritability.
- Epigenetics, specifically DNA methylation, is increasingly recognized for its role in disease susceptibility and progression, especially in response to environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the significance of DNA methylation studies in psychiatric disorders, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- To emphasize the dynamic nature of the epigenome and its modulation by environmental factors, learning, and memory.
- To underscore the importance of understanding the interplay between environment, methylome, and transcriptome in stress-related disorders.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on epigenetics, DNA methylation, and psychiatric disorders.
- Analysis of studies investigating the impact of early life events and adult trauma on DNA methylation.
- Examination of the role of epigenetic dysregulation in cognitive and affective disorders.
Main Results:
- Environmental factors significantly impact DNA methylation patterns, influencing gene expression.
- Aberrant DNA methylation can lead to disease susceptibility when adaptive responses to environmental demands fail.
- Epigenetic dysregulation is linked to various neurological and psychiatric conditions, including neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, affective, and stress-related disorders.
Conclusions:
- DNA methylation is a critical mediator between environmental exposures and gene expression in psychiatric disorders like PTSD.
- Understanding the dynamic interaction of the environment, methylome, and transcriptome is essential for advancing the treatment of stress-related disorders.
- Further research into epigenetic mechanisms offers promising avenues for novel therapeutic strategies for PTSD and other complex psychiatric conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
981
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
981
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
879
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
879
01:37Epigenetic Regulation
3.5K
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
X-chromosome...
3.5K
01:20Traumatic Memory
787
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual...
787
01:17Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
921
Methylation is a phase II biotransformation process involving the attachment of a methyl group to a substrate. Enzymes known as methyltransferases orchestrate this reaction.
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
921