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Methyl- and acetyltransferases are stable epigenetic markers postmortem

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Abstract

Postmortem brain tissue has been reported to be suitable to delineate regional pattern of possible disturbances underlying epigenetic functionality. However, from many parameters that have been detected in postmortem brain regions it is noteworthy that an effect of postmortem interval (PMI), storage time and premortem parameters should not be underestimated. Our previous investigation revealed that tryptophan (TRP) levels in postmortem brain tissue is affected by PMI and storage time. Since, alteration in TRP levels are assumed to be due to protein degradation, we further investigated whether TRP correlates to variables such as RNA, proteins and DNA modulators. In addition, we aimed to elucidate whether established postmortem variables may influence epigenetic parameters. These were investigated in well characterized postmortem human brain tissue originating from the European Brain Bank consortium II (BNEII). We could confirm previous findings, in which some protein levels alter because of prolonged PMI. Similarly, we demonstrated an influence of increased storage period on TRP levels, which might indicate degradation of proteins. Still not all proteins degrade in a similar manner, therefore a specific analysis for the protein of interest would be recommended. We found that methyltransferase- and acetyltransferase-activities were relatively preserved with PMI and storage duration. In conclusion, preservation of acetyltransferase- and methyltransferase-activities provides possible evidence of stability for epigenetic studies using postmortem tissue.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all tissue donors and their families as well as to the BrainNet Europe II Consortium and the German BrainNet. We thank Prof. Dr. Med. Hans A. Kretzschmar the coordinator of the BrainNet Europe II Consortium for his enormous organizational work. We thank Dr. Thomas Arzberger, Dr. Susanne Kneitz, Hannelore Schraut, Rainer Burger, Monika Siemer and Carola Gagel for excellent technical assistance. This study was supported by the European Commission’s Sixth Framework Program (BrainNet Europe II, LSHM-CT-2004-503039).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Neurochemistry, National Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence Research Laboratory, Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatic and Psychotherapy, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Edna Grünblatt, Jasmin Bartl, Andrea Meyer, Daniela Keller, Tanja M. Michel, Jürgen Deckert & Peter Riederer

  2. Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Camelia Maria Monoranu & Wolfgang Roggendorf

  3. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Manuela Apfelbacher

  4. Institut de Neuropatologia, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Isidro Ferrer

  5. Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM27), Institute of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos 785, 05453-010, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Andrea Schmitt

  6. Department of Clinical Neuropathology, London Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

    Safa Al-Saraj

  7. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany

    Andrea Schmitt & Peter Falkai

  8. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Tanja M. Michel

  9. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Edna Grünblatt

  10. Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatic and Psychotherapy, Neurochemistry Laboratory, University of Würzburg, Füchsleinstr,15, 97080, Würzburg, Germany

    Edna Grünblatt

Authors
  1. Camelia Maria Monoranu
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  2. Edna Grünblatt
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  3. Jasmin Bartl
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  4. Andrea Meyer
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  5. Manuela Apfelbacher
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  6. Daniela Keller
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  7. Tanja M. Michel
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  8. Safa Al-Saraj
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  9. Andrea Schmitt
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  10. Peter Falkai
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  11. Wolfgang Roggendorf
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  12. Jürgen Deckert
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  13. Isidro Ferrer
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  14. Peter Riederer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edna Grünblatt.

Additional information

Camelia Maria Monoranu, Edna Grünblatt, contributed equally and to be considered as equal first authors.

Isidro Ferrer, Peter Riederer, to be considered as equal last authors.

Camelia Maria Monoranu, Edna Grünblatt, Safa Al-Saraj, Andrea Schmitt, Peter Falkai, Wolfgang Roggendorf, Isidro Ferrer, Peter Riederer—Member of BrainNet Europe II Consortium (BrainNet Europe http://www.brainnet-europe.org).

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Monoranu, C.M., Grünblatt, E., Bartl, J. et al. Methyl- and acetyltransferases are stable epigenetic markers postmortem. Cell Tissue Bank 12, 289–297 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-010-9199-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-010-9199-z

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