DNA表观遗传修饰在药物成瘾记忆中的作用及机制

The role and mechanisms of DNA epigenetic modification in drug related memory

DNA表观遗传修饰主要包括DNA甲基转移酶介导的DNA甲基化和10-11易位酶介导的DNA去甲基化。这两种表观遗传修饰都可以响应环境刺激,调控基因表达,引起神经功能和行为的改变。已有大量研究表明DNA甲基化是调控成瘾记忆的重要机制之一,近年来也发现DNA去甲基化参与调控恐惧记忆及成瘾行为,提示DNA表观遗传修饰在成瘾记忆中的作用需要重新评估。本文将重点讨论DNA甲基化和去甲基化可能共同调控成瘾记忆,探讨其调控机制,并试图提出可深入的研究展望。

DNA epigenetic modification includes DNA methylation, which was catalyzed by the DNA methyltransferase, and DNA demethylation, which was mediated by the Ten-eleven translocation enzymes. Both of them induce the changes of neural activity and behavior through responding environmental stimulus and regulating gene expression. Massive studies suggested that DNA methylation is one of the most important mechanisms in the drug related memory. In recent years, it was found that DNA demethylation involved in controlling fear memory and addiction behavior. As a result, the effects of DNA epigenetic modification on drug related memory should be reassessed. This review focuses on the co-regulation of DNA methylation and demethylation in drug related memory, then we discuss the probable regulatory mechanisms and try to put forward the vista of further study.