Nature Neuroscience 2015-07-01

Experience-dependent DNA methylation regulates plasticity in the developing visual cortex.

Paola Tognini, Debora Napoli, Jonida Tola, Davide Silingardi, Floriana Della Ragione, Maurizio D'Esposito, Tommaso Pizzorusso

Index: Nat. Neurosci. 18 , 956-8, (2015)

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Abstract

DNA methylation is an epigenetic repressor mark for transcription dynamically regulated in neurons. We analyzed visual experience regulation of DNA methylation in mice and its involvement in ocular dominance plasticity of the developing visual cortex. Monocular deprivation modulated the expression of factors controlling DNA methylation and exerted opposite effects on DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in specific plasticity genes. Inhibition of DNA methyltrasferase (DNMT) blocked molecular and functional effects of monocular deprivation, partially reversing the monocular deprivation transcriptional program.