Genome-wide DNA methylation and expression analyses in the nucleus accumbens identifies coordinated regulation of receptor trafficking regulators

DNA methylation modifications have been associated with alcohol use and proposed to contribute to alcohol abuse disorders, however the downstream molecular and cellular consequences remain obscure. We investigated the effects of long-term alcohol use on genome-wide DNA methylation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rhesus macaques that self-administered 4% alcohol for 12 months. Using CpG-rich region enrichment, bisulfite sequencing and cluster analysis to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs), the methylation levels of 2.7 million CpGs were compared between alcohol-na ïve, light-moderate and heavy drinking subjects.

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: R. Cervera-Juanes, L.J. Wilhem, K.A. Grant, B. Ferguson Source Type: research