Epigenetics & Chromatin

Felice Elefant, Ph.D. has a long standing interest in chromatin biology and a demonstrated track record in studying epigenetic mechanisms underlying neural gene control in the brain. Her research program is focused on understanding epigenetic mechanisms that govern regulation of higher order brain function via chromatin packaging control in neurons. Numerous studies, including our own research (Panikker et al., Journal of Neuroscience, 2018), show that disruption of this finely tuned epigenetic balance in the brain involving reduced histone acetylation levels causes an epigenetic blockade of transcription with concomitant cognitive impairment that is a key step in neurodegenerative disease etiology including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). My laboratory is funded by the National Institutes of Health to explore the role(s) of HATs in cognition and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding such processes should provide safer and selective ways to promote histone acetylation mediated cognitive enhancement benefi ts in clinical settings.