CHROMATIN ACCESSIBILITY IN ACCUMBENS NUCLEUS OF BRG1D1CRE MUTANT AND CONTROL MICE

Stress exposure is a cardinal risk factor for most psychiatric diseases. Yet, the underlying mechanisms are far from being understood. Both preclinical and clinical studies point to changes in gene expression involving epigenetic modifications within mesocorticolimbic brain circuits. Besides chemical chromatin modifications, chromatin reorganization is an essential step that promotes enduring plastic changes in gene expression. So far, the role of chromatin remodeling in stress-related mental disorders has been largely understudied. Brahma and Brahma-Related Gene 1 (BRG1) are ATPase subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes, which are known to potentiate nuclear receptors transcriptional activity such as the glucocorticoid receptor. Here we analyse chromatin accessibility of mouse nucleus accumbens homozygous for an inactivated Brg1/Smarca4 or a functional allele in their dopaminoceptive neurons by using an ATAC-seq protocol. Specific genome-wide signatures in chromatin accessibility characterize the inactivated and functional alleles.