Project description:Ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes mediate the conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), which is enriched in brain, and its ultimate DNA demethylation. However, the influence of TET and 5hmC on gene transcription in brain remains elusive. We found that ten-eleven translocation protein 1 (TET1) was downregulated in mouse nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key brain reward structure, by repeated cocaine administration, which enhanced behavioral responses to cocaine. We then identified 5hmC induction in putative enhancers and coding regions of genes that have pivotal roles in drug addiction. Such induction of 5hmC, which occurred similarly following TET1 knockdown alone, correlated with increased expression of these genes as well as with their alternative splicing in response to cocaine administration. In addition, 5hmC alterations at certain loci persisted for at least 1 month after cocaine exposure. Together, these reveal a previously unknown epigenetic mechanism of cocaine action and provide new insight into how 5hmC regulates transcription in brain in vivo.
Project description:Here we show that Tet1 is down-regulated in mouse nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key brain reward structure, by repeated cocaine administration which enhances behavioral responses to cocaine. Through genome-wide 5hmC profiling, we identified 5hmC changes selectively clustered in both enhancer and coding regions of genes with several annotated neural functions. By coupling with mRNA sequencing, we found cocaine-induced alterations in 5hmC correlate positively with alternative splicing. We also demonstrated that 5hmC alteration at certain genes lasts up to a month after cocaine exposure. RNA Nac samples were collected at various time points after 7 daily cocaoine ip administration for 5hmC and transcriptome analysis
Project description:Here we show that Tet1 is down-regulated in mouse nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key brain reward structure, by repeated cocaine administration which enhances behavioral responses to cocaine. Through genome-wide 5hmC profiling, we identified 5hmC changes selectively clustered in both enhancer and coding regions of genes with several annotated neural functions. By coupling with mRNA sequencing, we found cocaine-induced alterations in 5hmC correlate positively with alternative splicing. We also demonstrated that 5hmC alteration at certain genes lasts up to a month after cocaine exposure.