title: Dynamic DNA methylation: a prime candidate for genomic metaplasticity and behavioral adaptation.
abstract: DNA methylation was once considered to be a static epigenetic modification whose primary function was restricted to directing the development of cellular phenotype. However, it is now evident that the methylome is dynamically regulated across the lifespan: during development as a putative mechanism by which early experience leaves a lasting signature on the genome and during adulthood as a function of behavioral adaptation. Here, we propose that experience-dependent variations in DNA methylation, particularly within the context of learning and memory, represent a form of genomic metaplasticity that serves to prime the transcriptional response to later learning-related stimuli and neuronal reactivation.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Epigenomics Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Danay
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baker-Andresen
authors.forename: Vikram S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Ratnu
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Bredy
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000502:physiology*; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*