title: RSK2 signaling in brain habenula contributes to place aversion learning.
abstract: RSK2 is a Ser/Thr kinase acting in the Ras/MAPK pathway. Rsk2 gene deficiency leads to the Coffin-Lowry Syndrome, notably characterized by cognitive deficits. We found that mrsk2 knockout mice are unable to associate an aversive stimulus with context in a lithium-induced conditioned place aversion task requiring both high-order cognition and emotional processing. Virally mediated shRNA-RSK2 knockdown in the habenula, whose involvement in cognition is receiving increasing attention, also ablated contextual conditioning. RSK2 signaling in the habenula, therefore, is essential for this task. Our study reveals a novel role for RSK2 in cognitive processes and uncovers the critical implication of an intriguing brain structure in place aversion learning.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale/Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Darcq
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koebel
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Boca
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pannetier
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kirstetter
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanauer
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Befort
authors.forename: Brigitte L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kieffer
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D019262:Habenula / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D038744:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C413663:fluorescent protein 583; D038744:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa; C069330:ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 90kDa, polypeptide 3; D018021:Lithium Chloride