A bioinformatics analysis of memory consolidation reveals involvement of the transcription factor c-rel.
Consolidation of long-term memory (LTM) is a complex process requiring synthesis of new mRNAs and proteins. Many studies have characterized the requirement for de novo mRNA and protein synthesis; however, few studies have comprehensively identified genes regulated during LTM consolidation. We show that consolidation of long-term contextual memory in the hippocampus triggers altered expression of numerous genes encompassing many aspects of neuronal function. Like contextual memory formation, this altered gene expression required NMDA receptor activation and was specific for situations in which the animal formed an association between a physical context and a sensory stimulus. Using a bioinformatics approach, we found that regulatory elements for several transcription factors are over-represented in the upstream region of genes regulated during consolidation of LTM. Using a knock-out mouse, we found that c-rel, one of the transcription factors identified in our bioinformatics study, is necessary for hippocampus-dependent long-term memory formation.
Levenson
Jonathan M
JM
Division of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Choi
Sangdun
S
Lee
Sun-Young
SY
Cao
Yun Anna
YA
Ahn
Hyung Jin
HJ
Worley
Kim C
KC
Pizzi
Marina
M
Liou
Hsiou-Chi
HC
Sweatt
J David
JD
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D004597:Electroshock; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology
D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate