title: Cortical DNA methylation maintains remote memory.
abstract: A behavioral memory's lifetime represents multiple molecular lifetimes, suggesting the necessity for a self-perpetuating signal. One candidate is DNA methylation, a transcriptional repression mechanism that maintains cellular memory throughout development. We found that persistent, gene-specific cortical hypermethylation was induced in rats by a single, hippocampus-dependent associative learning experience and pharmacologic inhibition of methylation 1 month after learning disrupted remote memory. We propose that the adult brain utilizes DNA methylation to preserve long-lasting memories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. cmiller@scripps.edu
authors.forename: Courtney A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Cristin F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Gavin
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: R Ryley
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Parrish
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honasoge
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Yancey
authors.forename: Ivonne M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: María D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rumbaugh
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sweatt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004597:Electroshock; D005239:Fear; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D019703:Calcineurin