Epitranscriptomic regulation of cognitive development and decline

Functional genomics and systems biology have opened new doors to previously inaccessible genomic information and holistic approaches to study complex networks of genes and proteins in the central nervous system. The advances are revolutionizing our understanding of the genetic underpinning of cognitive development and decline by facilitating identifications of novel molecular regulators and physiological pathways underlying brain function, and by associating polymorphism and mutations to cognitive dysfunction and neurological diseases. However, our current understanding of these complex gene regulatory mechanisms has yet lacked sufficient mechanistic resolution for further translational breakthroughs. Here we review recent findings from the bur-geoning field of epitranscriptomics in association of cognitive functions with a special focus on the epitran-scritomic regulation in subcellular locations such as chromosome, synapse, and mitochondria. Although there are important gaps in knowledge, current evidence is suggesting that this layer of RNA regulation may be of particular interest for the spatiotemporally coordinated regulation of gene networks in developing and main-taining brain function that underlie cognitive changes.

Automated summary

Functional genomics and systems biology have provided new approaches for studying gene and protein networks in the central nervous system. Current research is uncovering the connection between brain function and gene regulation, particularly in the field of epitranscriptomics. However, there is still much to learn about these complex regulatory mechanisms.