Genetics and Epigenetics in Cardiac Psychology

Precisely how regulated patterns of gene expression under the control of diverse signaling pathways underlie the homeostatic control of neuroanatomical aspects of cardiac function remains unclear. The autonomic nervous system is distinguished by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems that are under the direct control of transcription factors that function as either activators
or repressors of gene expression. While several regulatory determinants are known to coordinate the actions of activators and repressors, how these factors serve to maintain genes implicated in the neurocardiac axis is the subject of review. The discovery of regulatory complexes that serve as a functional linkage between DNA-bound transcription factors and altered chromatin structures
indicates that posttranslational modifications of core histones connect aspects of neurocardiac gene function. The complexity of these regulators to alter noradrenaline transporter (NET) gene function is explored here. Recent evidence of chromatin-modifying enzymes regulating NET expression might apply to genes implicated in neurocardiology.