Neuronal enhancers get a break

Emerging evidence shows that neuronal DNA is continuously broken and repaired in a non-random fashion within the genome. Two recent studies, Wu et al. (2021) and Reid et al. (2021), use sequencing of newly synthesized DNA in post-mitotic neurons to map hotspots of DNA repair across the genome. Wu et al. (2021) further show that the repair sites are associated with single-stranded DNA breaks that predominantly occur on neuronal enhancers at sites of CpG methylation.

Automated summary

Emerging evidence suggests that neuronal DNA undergoes continuous non-random damage and repair within the genome, with repair sites associated with single-stranded DNA breaks that predominantly occur on neuronal enhancers at sites of CpG methylation. Two recent studies have utilized sequencing methods to map these repair hotspots in post-mitotic neurons.