Histone Modifications in Neurological Disorders

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) have a strong impact on many proteins across all kingdoms of life, affecting multiple functional and chemical properties of their protein recipients. With increasing knowledge about their functions, targets, and biological effects, dysregulations in PTMs have been implicated in various dysfunctions and diseases. One such target are histones, which compose the majority of the protein component of chromatin and the modulation of the 30+ PTMs that are known to affect them can have profound effects on chromatin state, gene expression, and DNA repair. In this review, the histone targets of PTMs are compiled in the context of neurological disorders, highlighting their specific biological roles and any previously implicated dysregulations in several classes of brain disease. Better understanding the pathogenic dysregulations of PTMs in such disorders can help to better understand their causes, as well as open doors to new possibilities for biomarkers and therapeutic targets.