Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Apr;1522(1):24-41.
doi: 10.1111/nyas.14959. Epub 2023 Feb 5.

The epigenetic landscape of oligodendrocyte lineage cells

Ipek Selcen  1   2 , Emily Prentice  2   3 , Patrizia Casaccia  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

The epigenetic landscape of oligodendrocyte lineage cells

Ipek Selcen et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

The epigenetic landscape of oligodendrocyte lineage cells refers to the cell-specific modifications of DNA, chromatin, and RNA that define a unique gene expression pattern of functionally specialized cells. Here, we focus on the epigenetic changes occurring as progenitors differentiate into myelin-forming cells and respond to the local environment. First, modifications of DNA, RNA, nucleosomal histones, key principles of chromatin organization, topologically associating domains, and local remodeling will be reviewed. Then, the relationship between epigenetic modulators and RNA processing will be explored. Finally, the reciprocal relationship between the epigenome as a determinant of the mechanical properties of cell nuclei and the target of mechanotransduction will be discussed. The overall goal is to provide an interpretative key on how epigenetic changes may account for the heterogeneity of the transcriptional profiles identified in this lineage.

Keywords: brain; chromatin; development; histone; myelin; transcription.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Regulation of gene expression during the major transitions from neural stem cell to oligodendrocyte. Histone and DNA modifications and relative enzymatic activities regulating the expression of the indicated gene categories during the transition from neurogenic to gliogenic stem cell (panel A). Repressive histone modifications and transcriptional inhibitors responsible for the maintenance of the undifferentiated, proliferative, and electrically active state of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and for the transition to newly formed oligodendrocyte (NFO) (panel B). Schematic representation of the histone modifications and chromatin remodeling events regulating the differentiation from progenitor (OPC) to newly formed oligodendrocyte (NFO) to mature oligodendrocyte (mOL) (panel C). Created with BioRender.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The epigenomic landscape of an oligodendrocyte. Depicted here is a schematic representation of the 3D nuclear organization of the genome, including lamina-associated domain (LAD) and topologically associating domain (TAD), which together with histone and DNA modifications and chromatin remodelers, define the cell-specific unique epigenomic landscape. RNA processing, modification, and trafficking are shown in shaded gray boxes. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression by microRNA, long noncoding RNA, and circRNAs is shown in separate boxes. Created with BioRender. Abbreviations: circRNA, circular RNA; mRNA, messenger RNA.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Major pathways of mechanotransduction signal epigenetic changes in response to tension. The figure shows the main pathways responsible for the transmission of the signal from the outside of the cell to the nucleus. Boxes represent modalities of response to tensile stretches. Created with BioRender. Abbreviations: LAD, lamina-associated domain; LINC, linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton; NPC, nuclear pore complex; TAD, topologicallly associating domain.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Guelen L, Pagie L, Brasset E, Meuleman W, Faza MB, Talhout W, Eussen BH, de Klein A, Wessels L, de Laat W, & van Steensel B (2008). Domain organization of human chromosomes revealed by mapping of nuclear lamina interactions. Nature, 453, 948–951. - PubMed
    1. Towbin BD, González-Aguilera C, Sack R, Gaidatzis D, Kalck V, Meister P, Askjaer P, & Gasser SM (2012). Step-wise methylation of histone H3K9 positions heterochromatin at the nuclear periphery. Cell, 150, 934–947. - PubMed
    1. Nora EP, Lajoie BR, Schulz EG, Giorgetti L, Okamoto I, Servant N, Piolot T, van Berkum NL, Meisig J, Sedat J, Gribnau J, Barillot E, Blüthgen N, Dekker J, & Heard E (2012). Spatial partitioning of the regulatory landscape of the X-inactivation centre. Nature, 485, 381–385. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sexton T, Yaffe E, Kenigsberg E, Bantignies F, Leblanc B, Hoichman M, Parrinello H, Tanay A, & Cavalli G (2012). Three-dimensional folding and functional organization principles of the Drosophila genome. Cell, 148, 458–472. - PubMed
    1. Dixon JR, Selvaraj S, Yue F, Kim A, Li Y, Shen Y, Hu M, Liu JS, & Ren B (2012). Topological domains in mammalian genomes identified by analysis of chromatin interactions. Nature, 485, 376–380. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types