Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Trends Neurosci. 2018 May;41(5):311-324. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.02.009. Epub 2018 Mar 9.
Neurons are dynamic cells that respond and adapt to stimuli throughout their long postmitotic lives. The structural and functional plasticity of neurons requires the regulated transcription of new gene products, and dysregulation of transcription in either the developing or adult brain impairs cognition. We discuss how mechanisms of chromatin regulation help to orchestrate the transcriptional programs that underlie the maturation of developing neurons and the plasticity of adult neurons. We review how chromatin regulation acts locally to modulate the expression of specific genes and more broadly to coordinate gene expression programs during transitions between cellular states. These data highlight the importance of epigenetic transcriptional mechanisms in postmitotic neurons. We suggest areas where emerging methods may advance understanding in the future.
神经元是具有活力的细胞,它们在其长长的有丝分裂后生命中对刺激作出反应并进行适应。神经元的结构和功能可塑性需要新基因产物的转录调控,而发育或成年大脑中的转录失调会损害认知。我们讨论了染色质调控机制如何帮助协调基础发育中神经元成熟和成年神经元可塑性的转录程序。我们回顾了染色质调控如何局部调节特定基因的表达,并在细胞状态转变过程中更广泛地协调基因表达程序。这些数据强调了表观遗传转录机制在后有丝分裂神经元中的重要性。我们建议在未来出现的方法可能会在哪些领域推进这方面的理解。