"Lack Of Epigenetic Enzyme Leaves Neurons A Tad Disorganized" - Anette Breindl

Changes in the 3-D organization of chromosomes in neurons affected the expression of genes that are important for the formation of neuronal connections, according to researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai reported.  The same genes have been implicated in schizophrenia risk.  Schahram Akbarian, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai said, “There is now the accepted idea that our genome is not like pasta in a bowl, randomly squished. It matters which part of the chromosome makes the loop and touches which other part of the chromosome.” The study shows that “there is noncoding DNA which is a critical part of this one megabase domain that regulates these cell adhesion molecules.” Better understanding of these noncoding regions may offer targets for therapeutic intervention down the line. For now, the findings “assign neurological function to noncoding DNA, which is pretty cool,” said Dr. Akbarian.

- Schahram Akbarian, MD, PhD, Professor, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

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