Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry (생물정신의학)

The Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry (대한생물정신의학회)
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Epigenetics and Psychiatric Disorders

Epigenetics와 정신장애

  • Oh, Daeyoung (Department of Neuropsychiatry and Mental Health Institute, College of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Yang, Byung-Hwan (Department of Neuropsychiatry and Mental Health Institute, College of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
  • Lee, Yu-Sang (Department of Psychiatry, Yongin Mental Hospital)
  • 오대영 (한양대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실 및 정신건강연구소) ;
  • 양병환 (한양대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실 및 정신건강연구소) ;
  • 이유상 (용인정신병원 정신과)
  • Published : 2008.11.30
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Abstract

In the post-genomic era, the mechanisms controlling activation of genes are thought to be more important. Gene-environment interactions are crucial in both development and treatment of psychiatric disorders as they are complex genetic disorders. Epigenetics is defined as a change of gene expression that occurs without a change of DNA sequence and can be heritable by certain mechanisms. Epigenetic changes play essential roles in control of gene activation. DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling and RNAi act as key mechanisms for epigenetic modifications of genes. Here, we review the basic mechanisms of epigenetics and discuss their potential involvement of human diseases, including psychiatric disorders.

Keywords