Methylated cytosine and the brain: a new base for neuroscience.
Methylation of genomic CpG residues is crucial for proper neuronal function. Rett syndrome, a common form of mental retardation, is associated with mutations in the gene encoding MeCP2, a methyl CpG binding protein linked to transcriptional repression. Gene knockouts of mouse Mecp2 have reproduced key aspects of the disease. A CNS-restricted knockout of Dnmt1, encoding the enzyme that maintains CpG methylation patterns, results in loss of mutant neurons and glia.
Tucker
K L
KL
Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, 4058, Basel, Switzerland.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D003596:Cytosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012097:Repressor Proteins
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497393:Mecp2 protein, mouse; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D003596:Cytosine