As neurons progress from one stage of development to the next, they undergo a series of stage-specific changes that are accompanied by the turning on of new genes they need to successfully accomplish maturity. They also turn off (silence) genes they no longer need. A major mechanism in this kind of gene silencing arises from chromatin remodeling, which is driven by DNA methylation, the binding of methyl-DNA binding proteins, and the recruitment of histone deacetylases. We have identified several key factors involved in ths mechanism which are expressed at specific stages during olfactory neuron development in vivo and in vitro. Jessica MacDonald, and Chris Gin are testing the roles of DNA methyl transferases and MBDs during ORN development and regulation using a combination of molecular, bioinformatics, cellular and transgenic mouse approaches.

HDAC 2 and NST (TuJ1) with DAPI in the basal cell layers of the OE