Main description:

Epigenetic mechanisms (DNA modifications, histone alterations and non-coding RNAs) are crucial for transcriptional regulation and alterations of the "physiological epigenome" are increasingly associated with human diseases. During the last decade the emerging field of neuroepigenomics have started to impact tremendously in areas such learning and memory, addiction or neurodegeneration. This expert volume covers the role of epigenetic molecular mechanism in regulation of central nervous system's function, one of the most exciting areas of contemporary molecular neuroscience. The book describes the current knowledge on the epigenetic basis of human disease covering the complete lifespan: from neurodevelopment/childhood (Rett Syndrome, Rubinstein-Taybi, autism), adolescence (eating disorders, drug addiction, anxiety), adulthood (depression, schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease) and elderly (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease).

The book also covers the three major players on neuroepigenomic mechanisms: histones alterations, DNA modifications and non-coding RNAs, their roles at the molecular and cellular level and the impact of their alterations on neuronal function and behavior. Finally, a special chapter on state-of-the-art technologies helps the reader not only to understand epigenetic driven changes in human cognition and diseases but also the methodology that will help to generate paradigm shifts on our understanding of brain function and the role of the neuroepigenome in human diseases.

Contents:

Part I: Neurodevelopmental and Childhood Disorders.- MECP2, a modulator of Neuronal Chromatin Organization Involved in Rett Syndrome.- The Role of Noncoding RNAs in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: The Case of Rett Syndrome.- Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome and Epigenetic Alterations.- Epigenetics of Autism Spectrum Disorder.- Part II: Adolescence Brain Diseases.- Eating Disorders and Epignetics.- Drug Addiction and DNA Modifications.-Drug Addiction and Histone Code Alterations.- Anxiety and Epigenetics.- Part III: Brain Disorders During Adulthood.- Histone Modifications in Major Depressive Disorder and Related Rodent Models.- DNA Methylation in Major Depressive Disorder.- Non-Coding RNAs in Depression.- DNA Methtlation in Schizophrenia.- Histone Post-translational Modifications in Schizophrenia.- Epigenetic Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).- Epigenetics of Huntington's Disease.- Part IV: Elderly Disorders.-DNA Modifications and Alzheimer's Disease.- Alzheimer's Disease and Histone Code Alterations.- Alzheimer's Disease and ncRNAs.- Epigenetics in Parkinson's Disease.- Part V: New Approaches for Neuroepigenomic Studies.- Single Cell Genomics Unravels Brain Cell Type Complexity.- Epigenome Editing in the Brain.- Techniques for Single Molecule mRNA Imaging in Living Cells.- Stem Cell Technology for (epi)genetic Brain Disorders.- Technologies for Deciphering Epigenomic DNA Patterns.- Bioinformatics Tools for Genome Wide Epigenetic Research.