Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016 Jun 18;68:474–488. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.010

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Typical dynamics of DNA methylation. DNA methylation patterns are determined by a combination of genetic background and environmental exposure. By means of modulating the activity of DNMTs, CpG dinucleotides will undergo methylation or (passive) demethylation of promoters, gene bodies and/or gene regulatory regions. Hypermethylation of CGIs in promoter regions have been traditionally associated with decreased gene expression, whereas their hypomethylation has been linked to increased gene expression. DNMT – DNA methyltransferase; CGI – CpG island.