This paper describes the role of epigenetics as a predisposing factor that modifies inborn emotional reactivity and the vulnerability or resilience to affective disorders, such as major depression or substance abuse. The authors tested the hypothesis that specific modified histones contribute to basal differences in temperament that bias emotional responses to the environment. Histone modification may result from environmental experiences such as stress and substance abuse; Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) was found to modify epigenetic pattern changes as well as affective behavior. The authors concluded that FGF2 is a modifier of epigenetic mechanisms associated with emotional responsiveness and suggest that histone protein H3K9me3 is a key player in the regulation of emotional vulnerability.
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Chaudhury S, Aurbach EL, Sharma V, Blandino P Jr, Turner CA, Watson SJ and Akil H: FGF2 is a target and a trigger of epigenetic mechanisms associated with differences in emotionality: Partnership with H3K9me3. PNAS 111(32):11834-11839 (2014).
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25071177