Balancing histone methylation activities in psychiatric disorders

Trends Mol Med. 2011 Jul;17(7):372-9. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2011.02.003. Epub 2011 Mar 21.

Abstract

Alterations in histone lysine methylation and other epigenetic regulators of gene expression contribute to changes in brain transcriptomes in mood and psychosis spectrum disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. Genetic association studies and animal models implicate multiple lysine methyltransferases and demethylases in the neurobiology of emotion and cognition. Here, we review the role of histone lysine methylation and transcriptional regulation in normal and diseased neurodevelopment and discuss various methyltransferases and demethylases as potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Epigenomics
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Methylation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Psychotic Disorders / pathology*

Substances

  • Histones
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase