Dennis Grayson, Ph.D.
Professor of Molecular Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
My lab is interested in epigenetic mechanisms that impact cognition. We study selected genes expressed in inhibitory neurons of the frontal cortex that are involved in modulating sensory input and higher order brain function. These neurons express numerous genes that are regulated through changes in DNA methylation. In some schizophrenia patients, these same neurons over express the enzyme DNA methyltransferase 1. We are interested in understanding how methylation is regulated in post-mitotic cells.
Selected references
- Chen Y, Kundakovic M, Agis-Balboa RC, Pinna G, Grayson DR. Induction of the reelin promoter by retinoic acid is mediated by Sp1. J Neurochem. 2007;103:650-665.
- Kundakovic M, Chen Y, Costa E, Grayson DR. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors coordinately induce expression of the human reelin and GAD67 genes. Mol Pharmacol. 2006;71: 644-653.
- Kundakovic M, Chen Y, guidotti A, Grayson DR. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors activate the reelin and GAD67 promoters through converging mechanisms. (2008) Manuscript in review.