Identification of flap structure-specific endonuclease 1 as a factor involved in long-term memory formation of aversive learning.
We previously proposed that DNA recombination/repair processes play a role in memory formation. Here, we examined the possible role of the fen-1 gene, encoding a flap structure-specific endonuclease, in memory consolidation of conditioned taste aversion (CTA). Quantitative real-time PCR showed that amygdalar fen-1 mRNA induction was associated to the central processing of the illness experience related to CTA and to CTA itself, but not to the central processing resulting from the presentation of a novel flavor. CTA also increased expression of the Fen-1 protein in the amygdala, but not the insular cortex. In addition, double immunofluorescence analyses showed that amygdalar Fen-1 expression is mostly localized within neurons. Importantly, functional studies demonstrated that amygdalar antisense knockdown of fen-1 expression impaired consolidation, but not short-term memory, of CTA. Overall, these studies define the fen-1 endonuclease as a new DNA recombination/repair factor involved in the formation of long-term memories.
Molecular and Cellular Cognition Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Lorena
L
Saavedra-Rodríguez
Adrinel
A
Vázquez
Humberto G
HG
Ortiz-Zuazaga
Nataliya E
NE
Chorna
Fernando A
FA
González
Lissette
L
Andrés
Karen
K
Rodríguez
Fernando
F
Ramírez
Alan
A
Rodríguez
Sandra
S
Peña de Ortiz
D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D045585:Flap Endonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013649:Taste
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D045585:Flap Endonucleases; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase