Overall, covalent modifications of histone side-chain residues which are under the control of different enzymatic pathways such as acetylation/deacetylation, methylation/demethylation and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation are crucial regulatory mechanisms that change the brain transcriptome upon acute or chronic exposure to alcohol. These contribute to the pathogenesis of alcoholism and the long-term neuroadaptations resulting from and associated with the alcoholic state.
