title: Epac signaling is required for hippocampus-dependent memory retrieval.
abstract: Previously we uncovered a critical role for norepinephrine and beta(1)-adrenergic signaling in hippocampus-dependent memory retrieval. Because the beta(1) receptor couples to G(s), we examine here whether cAMP is also required for contextual memory retrieval. Using pharmacologic and genetic approaches to manipulate cAMP and downstream signaling, we demonstrate that cAMP and two of its targets, protein kinase A (PKA) and exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac), are both required for retrieval. These findings demonstrate that cAMP signaling through Epac (as well as PKA) plays an essential role in cognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6084, USA.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: J Julius
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schwede
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005239:Fear; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C482601:Epac protein, mouse; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases