Thesis defense Marco Benevento (Donders series 280)

23 May 2017

Promotor: prof. dr. H. van Bokhoven 
copromotor: dr. N. Nadif Kasri, dr. H. Zhou

The Epigenetic Role of the Kleefstra Syndrome Protein EHMT1 in Synaptic Scaling and Cognition

The study of the contribution of epigenetic factors in controlling the expression of genetic programs related to cognition and development in response to environmental changes is a novel and fascinating neurobiological frontier. The aim of this thesis is to advance the knowledge of the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate dynamic changes of neuronal synaptic properties and in neurodevelopmental mechanisms related to cognition and in disease. The findings highlighted in this manuscript relate to the contribution of the Kleefstra syndrome protein Euchromatic Histone Methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) in regulating synaptic properties, cognition and neuronal development.