Felice Elefant

My research program is focused on understanding epigenetic mechanisms that govern higher order brain function via chromatin packaging in neurons. Epigenetic gene control in the brain is a fundamental mechanism for orchestrating dynamic gene expression profiles critical for cognitive function. One of the best characterized epigenetic mark crucial for learning and memory is histone acetylation that regulates cognitive gene expression by controlling chromatin packaging in neurons. Appropriate histone acetylation homeostasis is maintained by the antagonistic activity of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Numerous studies, including our own research, have shown 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). Nevertheless, the specific HATs that generate these neuroepigenetic marks and their mechanisms of action in neural epigenetic gene control in the brain remain largely unknown. My laboratory is focused on understanding the role(s) of specific HATs in higher order brain function and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Understanding such processes will likely provide safer and selective ways to promote histone acetylation mediated cognitive enhancement benefits in clinical settings.