Nestler Paper

Question 1

How do writers and erasers affect gene expression?

Answer 1

writer–> adds chemical tag to DNA sequences or histone protein
eraser–> removes chemical tags

Question 2

How does chronic exposure to cocaine affect gene expression differently than a single acute exposure to cocaine?

Answer 2

single exposure= about 100 genes are turned on (short term response)
chronic exposure= some genes turned on others (these changes lasted for months)

Question 3

Why do scientists think that epigenetic changes contribute to long term risk for addiction and depression?

Answer 3

both stress and cocaine engage the writers and erasers which changes what parts of the genome is expressed

Question 4

What is a major problem preventing widespread use of epigenetically-mediated treatment for addiction or depression?

Answer 4

Drugs targeting writers or erasers do so in a non-specific way

Question 5

what are writers?

Answer 5

enzymes