Cited by 326Epigenetics and DNA MethylationGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Control of Cognition and Adaptive Behavior by the GLP/G9a Epigenetic Suppressor Complex

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Schaefer, Anne, Sampath, Srihari C., Intrator, Adam, Min, Alice, Gertler, Tracy S., Surmeier, D. James, Tarakhovsky, Alexander, Greengard, Paul·2009·Neuron

Abstract

The genetic basis of cognition and behavioral adaptation to the environment remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that the histone methyltransferase complex GLP/G9a controls cognition and adaptive responses in a region-specific fashion in the adult brain. Using conditional mutagenesis in mice, we show that postnatal, neuron-specific deficiency of GLP/G9a leads to derepression of numerous nonneuronal and neuron progenitor genes in adult neurons. This transcriptional alteration is associated with complex behavioral abnormalities, including defects in learning, motivation, and environmental adaptation. The behavioral changes triggered by GLP/G9a deficiency are similar to key symptoms of the human 9q34 mental retardation syndrome that is associated with structural alterations of the GLP/EHMT1 gene. The likely causal role of GLP/G9a in mental retardation in mice and humans suggests a key role for the GLP/G9a-controlled histone H3K9 dimethylation in regulation of brain function through maintenance of the transcriptional homeostasis in adult neurons.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.11.019

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  • Mutation or deletion of one copy of the GLP gene in humans leads to Kleefstra syndrome, characterized by social behavior impairment, impulsivity, aggression, and mental retardation.

    “Researchers have reported that postnatal knockout of G9a reduced the anxiety phenotype in mice, while mutation or deletion of one copy of the GLP gene in humans leads to Kleefstra syndrome, characterized by social behavior impairment, impulsivity, aggression, and mental retardation (Schaefer et al., 2009).”

    From The Epigenetics of Anxiety Pathophysiology: A DNA Methylation and Histone Modification Focused Review (2023) · cites this paper as Schaefer et al., 2009

    The Results report that mice with postnatal G9a deficiency spent more time in the open arms of an elevated plus maze, consistent with reduced anxiety-like behavior, although the paper does not label this a reduced anxiety phenotype. The Results and Discussion associate alteration of a single GLP allele with a human mental retardation syndrome, but describe apathy and reduced activity rather than the claimed social impairment, impulsivity, and aggression. Page numbers were not supplied in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • The HMT complex G9a/G9a-like protein (GLP) is involved in the monomethylation and dimethylation of H3K9.

    “The HMT complex G9a/G9a-like protein (GLP), composed of the HMT euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2) or G9a and G9a-like protein (GLP or EHMT1), has been shown to be involved in the monomethylation and dimethylation of H3K9 (Schaefer et al., 2009).”

    From The Epigenetics of Anxiety Pathophysiology: A DNA Methylation and Histone Modification Focused Review (2023) · cites this paper as Schaefer et al., 2009

    The Introduction states that the G9a/GLP histone methyltransferase complex catalyzes H3K9 dimethylation, and the Results report that loss of either protein reduces euchromatic H3K9me2. Our copy does not state that the complex is involved in H3K9 monomethylation (searched: H3K9me1, monomethylation). (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Postnatal knockout of G9a reduced the anxiety phenotype in mice.

    “Researchers have reported that postnatal knockout of G9a reduced the anxiety phenotype in mice, while mutation or deletion of one copy of the GLP gene in humans leads to Kleefstra syndrome, characterized by social behavior impairment, impulsivity, aggression, and mental retardation (Schaefer et al., 2009).”

    From The Epigenetics of Anxiety Pathophysiology: A DNA Methylation and Histone Modification Focused Review (2023) · cites this paper as Schaefer et al., 2009

    The Results section (page unavailable) reports that mice with postnatal forebrain-specific G9a ablation entered and spent more time in the open arms of an elevated plus maze than controls, consistent with reduced anxiety-like avoidance. The paper interprets this as a lack of apparent awareness of danger, rather than explicitly diagnosing reduced anxiety. Its Results and Discussion associate alterations of one GLP allele with a human intellectual-disability syndrome, but do not substantiate the sentence’s specific list of social impairment, impulsivity, and aggression. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • G9a/GLP seems to exert temporal effects on developmental histone methylation.

    “Thus, G9a/GLP seems to exert temporal effects on developmental histone methylation.”

    From The Epigenetics of Anxiety Pathophysiology: A DNA Methylation and Histone Modification Focused Review (2023) · cites this paper as Schaefer et al., 2009

    The Results section, “Conditional ablation of GLP and G9a in postnatal neurons erases euchromatic H3K9 dimethylation” (page unavailable), reports that postnatal GLP or G9a deficiency reduces a histone methylation mark. It does not establish temporal changes in histone methylation across developmental stages; its developmental-stage finding concerns gene expression in adult neurons. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The sample sizes used in the study were similar to those reported in previous publications.

    “No statistical methods were used to pre-determine sample sizes but our sample sizes are similar to those reported in previous publications19,31,95,99,108.”

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Authors
Schaefer, A., Sampath, S. C., Intrator, A., Min, A., Gertler, T. S., Surmeier, D. J., Tarakhovsky, A., & Greengard, P.
Affiliations
  • Rockefeller University (US)
  • Northwestern University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Tarakhovsky, Alexander
  • Greengard, Paul
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-12
Volume
64
Issue
5
Pages
678-691
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2065364505
Cited by
317
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 24
FWCI
9.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (AG09464, P01AG009464)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH-074866, F30MH082522, MH082522, P50MH074866)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R03DA025962, DA025962)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM 07739, R01GM112811, T32GM007739)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI068058, R01AI068058)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (P01NS013742)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Keywords
EHMT1, histone methyltransferase, epigenetic regulation, cognition, learning and memory, motivation, environmental adaptation, adult neurons
MeSH terms
Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein, Adaptation, Physiological, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Behavior, Animal, Benzazepines, Body Weight, Caffeine, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Conditioning, Classical, Exploratory Behavior, Fear, Food Preferences, Mice, Inbred DBA, Mice, Transgenic, Motor Activity, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase, Mutagenesis, Dopamine Agonists, Maze Learning, Epigenesis, Genetic, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Mice, Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2, Polycomb Repressive Complex 2

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