et al., 2007). The function of DNA methylation may regulate the recruitment of histone modification enzymes (e.g. histone deactylase or histone methyl transferase) or transcription factor binding. The sites of altered DNA methylation of these genes notably coincide with important transcription factors known for neural specification and neuronal development (Table 2). Multiple binding motifs displayed altered DNA methylation in both Smarca2 and Cutl2. Sp1 has been shown to increase the transcription of Mash1 and promote the RA-induced neuronal differentiation of neural progenitor cells. E2F/p107, another transcription factor complex when bound to Smarca2, mediates cell cycles and proliferation of neural precursor cells (Muchardt and Yaniv, 1999; Vanderluit et al., 2004; McClellan et al., 2009). ER-alpha (Estrogen receptor alpha) is involved in neuronal differentiation when bound to Smarca2 (Merot et al., 2005).
