Genes 2019, 10(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10010043
Genomic Enhancers in Brain Health and Disease
Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 27 November 2018 / Revised: 8 January 2019 / Accepted: 9 January 2019 / Published: 14 January 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epigenetics, Environment, and Brain Disorders)
Abstract
Enhancers are non-coding DNA elements that function in cis to regulate transcription from nearby genes. Through direct interactions with gene promoters, enhancers give rise to spatially and temporally precise gene expression profiles in distinct cell or tissue types. In the brain, the accurate regulation of these intricate expression programs across different neuronal classes gives rise to an incredible cellular and functional diversity. Newly developed technologies have recently allowed more accurate enhancer mapping and more sophisticated enhancer manipulation, producing rapid progress in our understanding of enhancer biology. Furthermore, identification of disease-linked genetic variation in enhancer regions has highlighted the potential influence of enhancers in brain health and disease. This review outlines the key role of enhancers as transcriptional regulators, reviews the current understanding of enhancer regulation in neuronal development, function and dysfunction and provides our thoughts on how enhancers can be targeted for technological and therapeutic goals. View Full-TextKeywords:
enhancer; transcription; eRNA; neuron; gene regulation; epigenetic
▼
Figures
Figure 1
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
Share & Cite This Article
MDPI and ACS Style
Carullo, N.V.N.; Day, J.J. Genomic Enhancers in Brain Health and Disease. Genes 2019, 10, 43.
Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.