Review
Cell Biology
Yin Shi, Han-Ming Shen, Vidya Gopalakrishnan, Nancy Gordon
Summary: Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process that protects cells from harm and allows survival under stress conditions. The regulation of autophagy is complex, involving various signaling pathways including AMPK and mTOR. Understanding these regulatory mechanisms can lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Allison M. Burns, Johannes Graeff
Summary: Experimental evidence supports the theory of cognitive epigenetic priming (CEP); CEP may enhance memory by facilitating the expression of genes related to neuroplasticity; Understanding the mechanisms of CEP is crucial for preclinical research on cognitive enhancers.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Muthusamy Ramakrishnan, Zhijun Zhang, Sileesh Mullasseri, Ruslan Kalendar, Zishan Ahmad, Anket Sharma, Guohua Liu, Mingbing Zhou, Qiang Wei
Summary: Understanding the stress memory of plants under extreme temperatures can contribute to plant development. Plants use different types of stress memories regulated by epigenetic changes, playing a key role in gene regulation from early development to maturity. Some of the modifications can be passed on to offspring, while others are reactivated during reproduction. However, the mechanisms of stress memory inheritance and the integrated view of regulatory mechanisms in plants are still lacking.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Lynise C. Pillay, Lucpah Nekati, Phuti J. Makhwitine, Sizwe I. Ndlovu
Summary: The discovery of silent biosynthetic gene clusters in fungi provides vast opportunities for utilizing their encoded secondary metabolites, including for pharmaceutical applications. Fungi in endosymbiosis relationship with plants have been recognized as potential future sources for clinically relevant agents. The regulatory mechanisms governing the expression of silent biosynthetic gene clusters in fungi remain unknown, limiting their exploitation in the laboratory. Epigenetic modification using small molecular compounds has shown promising results in activating the expression of silent biosynthetic gene clusters. This review comprehensively analyzes the secondary metabolite profiles expressed after treatment with various epigenetic modifiers.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sabyasachi Maity, Raman Abbaspour, David Nahabedian, Steven A. Connor
Summary: The noradrenergic system plays a crucial role in memory formation and synaptic plasticity. Norepinephrine stimulates beta-ARs to regulate memory formation and affects neural circuit function through epigenetic modifications. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for studying brain disorders and developing neurotherapeutic applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ping Liao, Qing-Yun Wu, Sen Li, Kai-Bin Hu, Hui-Lin Liu, Hai-Yan Wang, Zai-Yun Long, Xiu-Min Lu, Yong-Tang Wang
Summary: Abscisic acid (ABA) is a hormone found in plants and animals that regulates blood glucose and inflammation. It has therapeutic effects on obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and inflammatory diseases. Studies have shown that ABA can cross the blood-brain barrier and improve learning, memory, and cognitive ability in the central nervous system. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in improving Alzheimer's disease, depression, and anxiety.
Article
Psychiatry
Elad Lax, Sonia Do Carmo, Yehoshua Enuka, Daniel M. Sapozhnikov, Lindsay A. Welikovitch, Niaz Mahmood, Shafaat A. Rabbani, Liqing Wang, Jonathan P. Britt, Wayne W. Hancock, Yosef Yarden, Moshe Szyf
Summary: This study found that Mbd2 deficiency leads to deficits in cognitive, social, and emotional functions in mice. Mbd2 regulates the expression of hundreds of genes by binding to regulatory DNA regions of neuronal genes, and there is a significant overlap with gene expression changes in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The findings suggest that Mbd2 is a novel epigenetic regulator of genes associated with ASD.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yulia Dembitskaya, Charlotte Piette, Sylvie Perez, Hugues Berry, Pierre J. Magistretti, Laurent Venance
Summary: The study shows that glucose and lactate play different roles in memory engram and neural computation. Lactate is important for high-stimulation load activity patterns and high attentional load in cognitive tasks, while glucose is sufficient for less demanding neural computation and learning tasks.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ivan Ballasch, Esther Garcia-Garcia, Cristina Vila, Anna Perez-Gonzalez, Anna Sancho-Balsells, Jessica Fernandez, David Soto, Mar Puigdellivol, Xavier Gasull, Jordi Alberch, Manuel J. Rodriguez, Josep M. Canals, Albert Giralt
Summary: In the last two decades, microglia have been recognized as important contributors to neurological disorders, not only through their immunological functions, but also through their ability to modulate synaptic and neural activity. The Ikzf1 gene, which plays crucial roles in regulating the function of circulating monocytes and lymphocytes, was found to be specifically expressed in adult microglia in the brain. Studies using Ikzf1 deficient mice revealed spatial learning deficits, impaired hippocampal function, and altered microglial morphology, suggesting that Ikzf1 is involved in microglial state and function. Furthermore, altered levels of Ikzf1 were observed in neurological disorder models and Alzheimer's disease patients, indicating its potential role in disease pathology.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Wei Wang, Qing Cao, Tao Tan, Fengwei Yang, Jamal B. Williams, Zhen Yan
Summary: Research suggests that targeting EHMT2 can reverse the repressive H3K9me2 histone mark in the brain of P301S Tau mice, improving spatial and recognition memory deficits. In addition, EHMT inhibition can normalize neuronal excitability and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the PFC of P301S Tau mice. UNC0642 treatment has been shown to regulate dysregulated genes and may be used to treat cognitive and synaptic deficits in neurodegenerative diseases associated with tauopathies.
Review
Cell Biology
Sweta Sikder, Ganesan Arunkumar, Daniel P. Melters, Yamini Dalal
Summary: Aging is a universal event characterized by the progressive loss of cell function. In the process of aging, changes in chromatin structure and function occur, which may contribute to age-related tumor formation.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Dan Zhang, Jifa Zhang, Yuxi Wang, Guan Wang, Pan Tang, Yun Liu, Yiwen Zhang, Liang Ouyang
Summary: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial disease caused by a complex interplay between genetic and epigenetic factors. Recent studies have revealed the epigenetic mechanisms involved in PD, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA (miRNA) regulation. Epigenetic regulators could be potential therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative disorders. This review summarizes the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in PD and discusses the use of inhibitors and activators of these regulators, as well as the neuroprotective effects of small molecule epigenetic modulators. Additionally, the contribution of miRNAs to the underlying mechanisms of PD and miRNA-based therapies are also discussed.
MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Leigang Song, Huan Chen, Dan Qiao, Bohan Zhang, Fangzhen Guo, Yizhou Zhang, Chang Wang, Sha Li, Huixian Cui
Summary: Androgens regulate learning and memory in mice through ZIP9, which is mediated by the ERK1/2-eIF4E pathway. This study provides new experimental evidence for the improvement of learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease through androgen supplementation.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Jie Liu, Meng Ke, Yuhan Sun, Shihui Niu, Wenli Zhang, Yun Li
Summary: Plant rejuvenation involves resetting gene expression patterns, chromatin remodeling, and histone modifications, resulting in the restoration of juvenile characteristics. The epigenetic mechanisms underlying this process are still in the early stages of study.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yifeng Rang, Huan Liu, Chunhong Liu
Summary: This review summarizes the mechanisms underlying Nonylphenol (NP)-induced learning and memory impairment and proposes possible therapeutic methods. Through behavior tests and other studies, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter disorder, synaptic plasticity impairment, and neuron injury are identified as key factors contributing to learning and memory deficits. In addition, chronic inflammation and increased gut permeability are also suggested to be associated with NP-induced learning and memory impairment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Oncology
Aroon S. Karra, Clinton A. Taylor, Curtis A. Thorne, Melanie H. Cobb
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea C. McReznolds, Aroon S. Karra, Yan Li, Elias Daniel Lopez, Adrian G. Turjanski, Elhadji Dioum, Kristina Lorenz, Elma Zaganjor, Steve Stippec, Kathleen McGlynn, Svetlana Earnest, Melanie H. Cobb