Uncovering Novel Transcriptional Enhancers in Neuronal Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have linked genetic variants to neuropsychiatric disorders, but their regulatory roles in non-coding regions remain largely unclear. Using the LUHMES neuronal cell model, researchers identified and characterized thousands of enhancers active during neuronal differentiation, linked them to target genes, and validated key interactions. This study demonstrates a significant enrichment of GWAS variants associated with Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia within these enhancers, providing a valuable resource for understanding neuronal development.