NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological Disease
The Neuron Restrictive Silencer Factor (NRSF) is the well-known master transcriptional repressor of the neuronal phenotype. Research to date has shown that it is an important player in the growth and development of the nervous system. Its role in the maturation of neural precursor cells to adult neu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/8/12/226 |
| _version_ | 1818792153608880128 |
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| author | Ryan Thompson Christina Chan |
| author_facet | Ryan Thompson Christina Chan |
| author_sort | Ryan Thompson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Neuron Restrictive Silencer Factor (NRSF) is the well-known master transcriptional repressor of the neuronal phenotype. Research to date has shown that it is an important player in the growth and development of the nervous system. Its role in the maturation of neural precursor cells to adult neurons has been well characterized in stem cell models. While much has been characterized from a developmental perspective, research is revealing that NRSF plays a role in various neurological diseases, ranging from neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, to cancer. Dysregulation of NRSF activity disrupts downstream gene expression that is responsible for neuronal cell homeostasis in several models that contribute to pathologic states. Interestingly, it is now becoming apparent that the dysregulation of NRSF contributes to neurological disease through epigenetic mechanisms. Although NRSF itself is a transcription factor, its major effectors are chromatin modifiers. At the level of epigenetics, changes in NRSF activity have been well characterized in models of neuropathic pain and epilepsy. Better understanding of the epigenetic basis of brain diseases has led to design and use of small molecules that can prevent NRSF from repressing gene expression by neutralizing its interactions with its chromatin remodelers. This review will address the basic function of NRSF and its cofactors, investigate their mechanisms, then explore how their dysfunction can cause disease states. This review will also address research on NRSF as a therapeutic target and delve into new therapeutic strategies that focus on disrupting NRSF’s ability to recruit chromatin remodelers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T15:22:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d6d3bf8ed30147208582faca89011038 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T15:22:43Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6d3bf8ed30147208582faca890110382022-12-21T21:03:21ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252018-12-0181222610.3390/brainsci8120226brainsci8120226NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological DiseaseRyan Thompson0Christina Chan1Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, 567 Wilson Road, Rm 2240E, East Lansing, MI 48824, USACell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, 567 Wilson Road, Rm 2240E, East Lansing, MI 48824, USAThe Neuron Restrictive Silencer Factor (NRSF) is the well-known master transcriptional repressor of the neuronal phenotype. Research to date has shown that it is an important player in the growth and development of the nervous system. Its role in the maturation of neural precursor cells to adult neurons has been well characterized in stem cell models. While much has been characterized from a developmental perspective, research is revealing that NRSF plays a role in various neurological diseases, ranging from neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, to cancer. Dysregulation of NRSF activity disrupts downstream gene expression that is responsible for neuronal cell homeostasis in several models that contribute to pathologic states. Interestingly, it is now becoming apparent that the dysregulation of NRSF contributes to neurological disease through epigenetic mechanisms. Although NRSF itself is a transcription factor, its major effectors are chromatin modifiers. At the level of epigenetics, changes in NRSF activity have been well characterized in models of neuropathic pain and epilepsy. Better understanding of the epigenetic basis of brain diseases has led to design and use of small molecules that can prevent NRSF from repressing gene expression by neutralizing its interactions with its chromatin remodelers. This review will address the basic function of NRSF and its cofactors, investigate their mechanisms, then explore how their dysfunction can cause disease states. This review will also address research on NRSF as a therapeutic target and delve into new therapeutic strategies that focus on disrupting NRSF’s ability to recruit chromatin remodelers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/8/12/226neuron restrictive silencer factorepigeneticsneurological disease |
| spellingShingle | Ryan Thompson Christina Chan NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological Disease Brain Sciences neuron restrictive silencer factor epigenetics neurological disease |
| title | NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological Disease |
| title_full | NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological Disease |
| title_fullStr | NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological Disease |
| title_short | NRSF and Its Epigenetic Effectors: New Treatments for Neurological Disease |
| title_sort | nrsf and its epigenetic effectors new treatments for neurological disease |
| topic | neuron restrictive silencer factor epigenetics neurological disease |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/8/12/226 |
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