Adolescent binge drinking has been identified as a significant risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders later in life, including alcohol use disorder. One of the key findings of Dr. Pandey's research is the epigenetic reprogramming that occurs at the enhancer region of the immediate-early gene, activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc), known as synaptic activity response element (SARE), in the amygdala of both rodents and humans following adolescent alcohol exposure.

In this episode, we discuss Dr. Pandey's fascinating research that demonstrated that the use of dCas9-P300 was able to increase histone acetylation at the Arc SARE, thus normalizing deficits in Arc expression. This led to the reduction of anxiety and excessive alcohol drinking in an adolescent alcohol exposure rat model. Conversely, the use of dCas9-KRAB increased repressive histone methylation at the Arc SARE, reduced Arc expression, and resulted in anxiety and alcohol drinking in control rats.

Join us as we dive into these important findings with Dr. Pandey and explore how epigenomic editing in the amygdala can potentially reduce adult psychopathology following adolescent alcohol exposure.

Keywords: Epigenomics, Adolescent Binge Drinking, Alcohol Use Disorder, Dr. Pandey, dCas9-P300, dCas9-KRAB, Arc SARE, Anxiety, Alcohol Drinking.

Targeted epigenomic editing ameliorates adult anxiety and excessive drinking after adolescent alcohol exposure https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abn2748