title: DNA methylation regulates neurophysiological spatial representation in memory formation.
abstract: Epigenetic mechanisms including altered DNA methylation are critical for altered gene transcription subserving synaptic plasticity and the retention of learned behavior. Here we tested the idea that one role for activity-dependent altered DNA methylation is stabilization of cognition-associated hippocampal place cell firing in response to novel place learning. We observed that a behavioral protocol (spatial exploration of a novel environment) known to induce hippocampal place cell remapping resulted in alterations of hippocampalBdnfDNA methylation. Further studies using neurophysiologicalin vivosingle unit recordings revealed that pharmacological manipulations of DNA methylation decreased long-term but not short-term place field stability. Together our data highlight a role for DNA methylation in regulating neurophysiological spatial representation and memory formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brian Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 ; Department of Neurobiology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brian Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 ; Department of Neurobiology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294.
authors.forename: Tania L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294.
authors.forename: Kelli M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Money
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294.
authors.forename: Sonda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: SenGupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294.
authors.forename: Dawn E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Eason
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294.
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sweatt
keywords: Bdnf; DNA methylation; DNMT; epigenetic; hippocampus; memory; neuroepigenetics; place cells; spatial memory