Neuronal Lhx1 expression is regulated by DNMT1-dependent modulation of histone marks

Apart from the conventional view of repressive promoter methylation, the DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) was recently described to modulate gene expression through a variety of interactions with diverse epigenetic key players. We here investigated the DNMT1-dependent transcriptional control of the homeobox transcription factor LHX1, which we previously identified as an important regulator in cortical interneuron development. We found that LHX1 expression in embryonic interneurons originating in the embryonic pre-optic area (POA) is regulated by non-canonic DNMT1 function. Analysis of histone methylation and acetylation revealed that both epigenetic modifications seem to be implicated in the control of Lhx1 gene activity and that DNMT1 contributes to their proper establishment. This study sheds further light on the regulatory network of cortical interneuron development including the complex interplay of epigenetic mechanisms.