The Chromodomain Helicase DNA binding protein CHD5 is required for neuronal differentiation and repression of non neuronal genes

Abstract

The candidate tumour suppressor gene chromodomain, helicase DNA-binding protein 5 (CHD5) is frequently deleted in neuroblastoma. However, little is known about the role of the CHD5 protein during normal development or its mechanism of action. The work presented here reveals that CHD5 is a neuronal specific chromatin remodeller protein. Furthermore, knockdown of the CHD5 protein in both in vitro and in vivo models leads to a block of neuronal differentiation and an accumulation of undifferentiated neuronal progenitor like cells.