Genomic imprinting and neurobehavioral programming by adverse early life environments: evidence from studying Cdkn1c

Imprinted genes are subject to epigenetic regulation that leads to monoallelic expression from one parental allele only. Brain expression of the imprinted gene Cdkn1c is sensitive to early life adversity, including exposure to maternal low protein diet (LPD) where increased expression of Cdkn1c is due to de-repression of the normally silent paternal allele. Maternal LPD also leads to changes in the dopamine system and reward related behaviours in offspring. We have recently demonstrated that these brain and behavioural phenotypes are recapitulated in a transgenic model in which Cdkn1c expressi alone is increased. Here we summarise these findings and suggest that the loss of imprinting of Cdkn1c in the offspring following maternal low protein diet is a key contributor to the associated changes in the dopamine system and behavior reported after early life adversity