Sex Differences in the Epigenome: A Cause or Consequence of Sexual Differentiation of the Brain?

Gegenhuber, B., Tollkuhn, J. (June 2019) Sex Differences in the Epigenome: A Cause or Consequence of Sexual Differentiation of the Brain? Genes (Basel), 10 (6). E432. ISSN 2073-4425 (Print)2073-4425

[thumbnail of 2019.Gegenhuber.SexEpigenome.pdf]
Preview
PDF
2019.Gegenhuber.SexEpigenome.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (970kB) | Preview

Abstract

Females and males display differences in neural activity patterns, behavioral responses, and incidence of psychiatric and neurological diseases. Sex differences in the brain appear throughout the animal kingdom and are largely a consequence of the physiological requirements necessary for the distinct roles of the two sexes in reproduction. As with the rest of the body, gonadal steroid hormones act to specify and regulate many of these differences. It is thought that transient hormonal signaling during brain development gives rise to persistent sex differences in gene expression via an epigenetic mechanism, leading to divergent neurodevelopmental trajectories that may underlie sex differences in disease susceptibility. However, few genes with a persistent sex difference in expression have been identified, and only a handful of studies have employed genome-wide approaches to assess sex differences in epigenomic modifications. To date, there are no confirmed examples of gene regulatory elements that direct sex differences in gene expression in the brain. Here, we review foundational studies in this field, describe transcriptional mechanisms that could act downstream of hormone receptors in the brain, and suggest future approaches for identification and validation of sex-typical gene programs. We propose that sexual differentiation of the brain involves self-perpetuating transcriptional states that canalize sex-specific development.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: bioinformatics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics
organism description > animal behavior
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > organs types and functions > brain
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell functions
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > epigenetics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > epigenetics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > small molecules > estrogen
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell functions > neurogenesis
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > organs types and functions
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions
organism description > animal behavior > sex differences
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > small molecules
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Tollkuhn lab
School of Biological Sciences > Publications
Depositing User: Matthew Dunn
Date: 7 June 2019
Date Deposited: 22 Jul 2019 15:26
Last Modified: 02 Feb 2024 15:11
PMCID: PMC6627918
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/38180

Actions (login required)

Administrator's edit/view item Administrator's edit/view item