Epigenetic Approaches to Define the Molecular and Genetic Risk Architectures of Schizophrenia

This book chapter discusses how the field of neuroepigenetics could contribute to a better understanding of molecular and genetic risk architectures of schizophrenia, including improvements in future treatments. Candidate gene-specific-and, more importantly, genome-scale-mapping of DNA methylation, histone modifications and variants, and chromosomal loopings for promoter-enhancer interactions and other epigenetic determinants of genome organization and function are likely to provide important clues about mechanisms contributing to dysregulated expression of synaptic and metabolic genes in schizophrenia brain, including the potential links to the underlying genetic risk architecture and environmental exposures. In addition, studies using animal models could identify chromatin-regulatory mechanisms with significant effects on cognition and complex behaviors, thereby pointing to the therapeutic potential of epigenetic drug targets in the nervous system.