Behavioral alterations in mice lacking the translation repressor 4E-BP2.
The requirement for de novo protein synthesis during multiple forms of learning, memory and behavior is well-established; however, we are only beginning to uncover the regulatory mechanisms that govern this process. In order to determine how translation initiation is regulated during neuroplasticity we engineered mutant C57Bl/6J mice that lack the translation repressor eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 2 (4E-BP2) and have previously demonstrated that 4E-BP2 plays a critical role in hippocampus-dependent synaptic plasticity and memory. Herein, we examined the 4E-BP2 knockout mice in a battery of paradigms to address motor activity and motor skill learning, anxiety and social dominance behaviors, working memory and conditioned taste aversion. We found that the 4E-BP2 knockout mice demonstrated altered activity in the rotating rod test, light/dark exploration test, spontaneous alternation T-maze and conditioned taste aversion test. The information gained from these studies builds a solid foundation for future studies on the specific role of 4E-BP2 in various types of behavior, and for a broader, more detailed examination of the mechanisms of translational control in the brain.
Banko
Jessica L
JL
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Merhav
Maayan
M
Stern
Elad
E
Sonenberg
Nahum
N
Rosenblum
Kobi
K
Klann
Eric
E
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / Q000172:deficiency*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test / Q000379:methods; D013649:Taste; D013997:Time Factors
C491255:Eif4ebp2 protein, mouse; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors