| Experiment Id | GSE201477 | Name | The epigenetic reader PHF21B modulates social memory and synaptic plasticity-related genes in mice |
| Experiment Type | RNA-Seq | Study Type | WT vs. Mutant |
| Source | GEO | Curation Date | 2023-06-15 |
| description | Plant homeodomain (PHD) finger proteins are epigenetic readers whose dysfunctions are implicated in neurological conditions, but the molecular mechanisms linking PHD protein deficits to disease remain unclear. Here we generated a PHD finger protein 21B (Phf21b)-depleted mutant CRISPR mouse model Phf21bdelta4/delta4) to examine its roles in the brain. KO animals exhibited impaired social memory. Reduced expression of synaptic proteins and impaired long-term potentiation were observed in the KO hippocampi. Transcriptome profiling revealed differential expression of genes involved in synaptic plasticity processes. Furthermore, we characterized a novel interaction of PHF21B to H3K36me3 (histone H3 tri-methylated lysine 36), a histone modification associated with transcriptional activation, and the transcriptional factor CREB. These results establish PHF21B as an important upstream regulator of synaptic plasticity-related genes, and a candidate therapeutic target for murine neurobehavioral dysfunction, with potential applications in human neurological and psychiatric disorders. Hippocampal tissues of Phf21b-depleted mutant CRISPR mouse model (Phf21bdelta4/delta4) and controls (WT) were used for RNAseq experiments |
