Promoter-wide hypermethylation of the ribosomal RNA gene promoter in the suicide brain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alterations in gene expression in the suicide brain have been reported and for several genes DNA methylation as an epigenetic regulator is thought to play a role. rRNA genes, that encode ribosomal RNA, are the backbone of the protein synthesis machinery and levels of rRNA gene promoter methylation determine rRNA transcription.

Methodology/principal findings

We test here by sodium bisulfite mapping of the rRNA promoter and quantitative real-time PCR of rRNA expression the hypothesis that epigenetic differences in critical loci in the brain are involved in the pathophysiology of suicide. Suicide subjects in this study were selected for a history of early childhood neglect/abuse, which is associated with decreased hippocampal volume and cognitive impairments. rRNA wa

SUBMITTER: McGowan PO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2330072 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature