MeCP2 and the enigmatic organization of brain chromatin. Implications for depression and cocaine addiction

Clin Epigenetics. 2016 May 21:8:58. doi: 10.1186/s13148-016-0214-5. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a highly abundant chromosomal protein within the brain. It is hence not surprising that perturbations in its genome-wide distribution, and at particular loci within this tissue, can result in widespread neurological disorders that transcend the early implications of this protein in Rett syndrome (RTT). Yet, the details of its role and involvement in chromatin organization are still poorly understood. This paper focuses on what is known to date about all of this with special emphasis on the relation to different epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone acetylation/ubiquitination, MeCP2 phosphorylation and miRNA). We showcase all of the above in two particular important neurological functional alterations in the brain: depression (major depressive disorder [MDD]) and cocaine addiction, both of which affect the MeCP2 homeostasis and result in significant changes in the overall levels of these epigenetic marks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology
  • Chromatin / genetics*
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / genetics*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / metabolism
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / pathology
  • DNA Methylation
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / genetics*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / pathology
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Humans
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / metabolism*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Rett Syndrome / genetics

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • MECP2 protein, human
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2
  • MicroRNAs