Invited Review: Epigenetics in neurodevelopment

Abstract

Neural development requires the orchestration of dynamic changes in gene expression to regulate cell fate decisions. This regulation is heavily influenced by epigenetics, heritable changes in gene expression not directly explained by genomic information alone. An understanding of the complexity of epigenetic regulation is rapidly emerging through the development of novel technologies that can assay various features of epigenetics and gene regulation. Here, we provide a broad overview of several commonly investigated modes of epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, noncoding RNAs, as well as epitranscriptomics that describe modifications of RNA, in neurodevelopment and diseases. Rather than functioning in isolation, it is being increasingly appreciated that these various modes of gene regulation are dynamically interactive and coordinate the complex nature of neurodevelopment along multiple axes. Future work investigating these interactions will likely utilize ‘multi‐omic’ strategies that assay cell fate dynamics in a high‐dimensional and high‐throughput fashion. Novel human neurodevelopmental models including iPSC and cerebral organoid systems may provide further insight into human‐specific features of neurodevelopment and diseases.

The Role of Epigenetics in Psychosis

“…The concept of epigenetic has spread into different fields, that do not address just the genetics, such as neuroscience [28,29], physiology [30,31], psychiatry [32][33][34], addiction [35], stress [36][37][38], and aging [39,40].…”

Implications of Extended Inhibitory Neuron Development

“…For instance, the placenta hormones, including estrogens, progesterone, and human placental lactogens, are some of the major intrauterine stimuli that can influence neurogenesis [ 40 ]. One mechanism through which the embryonic environment can regulate the developing nervous system is that of epigenetic modification, which mediates genetic expressions without alteration of the DNA sequence [ 41 ]. For example, ambient temperature can change the sex of reptiles, such as turtles, through the regulation of the histone demethylase KDM6B in temperature-sensitive embryonic gonads [ 42 , 43 ].…”

Adult stem cells and niche cells segregate gradually from common precursors that build the adult Drosophila ovary during pupal development

“…The development of terminally differentiated adult cell types commonly results from a series of successive, definitive and largely irreversible decisions that are stabilized by potentially long-lasting shifts in gene expression and chromatin modification [12][13][14][15][16][17]. However, the development of adult stem cells has not been studied extensively and presents a number of special considerations.…”