Differences in DNA methylation between human neuronal and glial cells are concentrated in enhancers and non-CpG sites.

We applied Illumina Human Methylation450K array to perform a genomic-scale single-site resolution DNA methylation analysis in neuronal and nonneuronal (primarily glial) nuclei separated from the orbitofrontal cortex of postmortem human brain. The findings were validated using enhanced reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. We identified thousands of sites differentially methylated (DM) between neuronal and nonneuronal cells.

No link of serotonin 2C receptor editing to serotonin transporter genotype.

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process, which has the potential to alter the function of encoded proteins. In particular, serotonin 2C receptor (5-HT2cR) mRNA editing can produce 24 protein isoforms of varying functionality. Rodent studies have shown that 5-HT2cR editing is dynamically modulated in response to environmental challenges.

Editing of serotonin 2C receptor mRNA in the prefrontal cortex characterizes high-novelty locomotor response behavioral trait.

Serotonin 2C receptor (5-HT(2C)R) exerts a major inhibitory influence on dopamine (DA) neurotransmission within the mesocorticolimbic DA pathway that is implicated in drug reward and goal-directed behaviors. 5-HT(2C)R pre-mRNA undergoes adenosine-to-inosine editing, generating numerous receptor isoforms in brain. As editing influences 5-HT(2C)R activity, individual differences in editing might influence dopaminergic function and, thereby, contribute to interindividual vulnerability to drug addiction.

TaqMan-based, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method for RNA editing analysis.

Abnormal adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) messenger RNA (mRNA) editing has been linked to several disease states afflicting the central nervous system. Here we report an assay to determine RNA editing frequencies at specific sites that is based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with TaqMan probes. The assay was tested by measuring the frequency of the A-to-I mRNA editing at the Q/R site of the human kainate receptor subunit GluR5 and was compared with two established methods of assessing RNA editing: sequencing of individual clones and restriction analysis.