title: Genetic approaches to investigate the role of CREB in neuronal plasticity and memory.
abstract: In neurons, the convergence of multiple intracellular signaling cascades leading to cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) activation suggests that this transcription factor plays a critical role in integrating different inputs and mediating appropriate neuronal responses. The nature of this transcriptional response depends on both the type and strength of the stimulus and the cellular context. CREB-dependent gene expression has been involved in many different aspects of nervous system function, from embryonic development to neuronal survival, and synaptic, structural, and intrinsic plasticity. Here, we first review the different methodological approaches used to genetically manipulate CREB activity and levels in neurons in vivo in the adult brain, including recombinant viral vectors, mouse transgenesis, and gene-targeting techniques. We then discuss the impact of these approaches on our understanding of CREB's roles in neuronal plasticity and memory in rodents. Studies combining these genetic approaches with electrophysiology and behavior provide strong evidence that CREB is critically involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity, intrinsic excitability, and long-term memory formation. These findings pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat memory disorders.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Campus de Sant Joan, Apt. 18, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550 Alicante, Spain. abarco@umh.es
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barco
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marie
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein