title: Matters of life and death: the role of chromatin remodeling proteins in retinal neuron survival.
abstract: Retinal neurons are highly vulnerable to a diverse array of neurotoxic stimuli that leads to their degeneration, which is a major contributor to blindness. This review summarizes the role of epigenetic factors in mediating neuronal homeostasis and survival to protect against cell death and neurodegenerative conditions. Studies in human patients and mouse models implicate numerous chromatin modifications in neuroprotective processes including histone protein acetylation and methylation, DNA methylation, and ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling. Recent research has begun to uncover specific epigenetic mechanisms invoked by neurotoxic stimuli. Continued investigation in this area will be the key to the generation of therapeutic strategies for the intervention of retinal neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON Canada K1H 8L6  ; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON Canada K1H 8M5.
authors.forename: Pamela S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Lagali
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Picketts
keywords: Chromatin remodeling; Epigenetics; Neurodegeneration; Neuronal survival; Retina; Retinal degeneration