DNA甲基化调控学习和记忆功能的研究进展

学习和记忆是两项最基本的认知功能,但其分子基础目前仍然没有研究清楚.神经细胞发挥功能主要依靠基因表达多种蛋白,而DNA甲基化修饰是一种调控基因表达的重要表现遗传方式.在正常衰老的过程中,全基因组DNA甲基化程度发生下降,与此同时学习和记忆功能也下降,这揭示DNA甲基化神经元可能参与记忆编码.然而这也缺乏直接支持的证据.由此几项研究已经提供了重要的支持证据,且DNA甲基化与记忆形成的研究得到了广泛的关注.为了进一步探索学习与记忆的表观遗传学机制,我们对近年来NA甲基化调控学习和记忆功能的研究进展作了综述.

DNA methylation impacts on learning and memory

Learning and memory are two of the fundamental cognitive functions that confer us the ability to accumulate knowledge from our experiences. Although we use these two mental skills continuously, understanding the molecular basis of learning and memory is very challenging. Methylation modification of DNA is an epigenetic mechanism that plays important roles in regulating gene expression, which is one of the key processes underlying tbe functions of cells including neurons. Interestingly, a ge- nome--wide decline in DNA methylation occurs in the brain during normal aging, which coincides with a functional decline in learning and memory with age. It has been speculated that DNA methylation in neu- rons might be involved in memory coding. However, direct evidence supporting the role of DNA methyl- ation in memory formation is still under investigation. This particular function of DNA methylation has not drawn wide attention despite several important studies that have provided supportive evidence for the epigenetic control of memory formation. To facilitate further exploration of the epigenetic basis of memory function, we will review existing studies on DNA methylation that are related to the development and function of the nervous system.