Work

A Functional Role for CREB as a Positive Regulator of Memory Formation and LTP

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Short-term memory (STM) persists for several hours at most, while long-term memory (LTM) can last for up to a lifetime.The process underlying the formation of LTM is called memory consolidation [1].A clear biochemical feature of memory consolidation at the cellular level, which occurs immediately after learning (an episode), is the induction of gene expression.This gene expression is considered to induce plastic changes in neurons, thereby allowing the long-term retention of memory.For example, experiments in rodents using a Pavlovian fear conditioning task and other tasks showed that when gene expression in the brain was inhibited immediately after conditioning (learning), STM (up to 2-4 h) was intact, but LTM (approximately 24 h) was disrupted [2, 3].These findings indicate that memory consolidation is dependent on the activation of gene expression.In addition, long-term potentiation (LTP) is considered to be a cellular model that reflects one aspect of memory formation.Field recording analyses showed that long-lasting LTP (L-LTP) induced by tetanic stimulation of hippocampal CA1 neurons also requires gene expression; the inhibition of gene expression impairs L-LTP without affecting the induction or early phase of LTP [1,3]. CREB, MEMORY FORMATION, AND LTPCREB was cloned in 1988 as a transcription factor that binds to the cAMP-responsive element (CRE) [4].Subsequent studies showed that CREB belongs to the CREB/ATF family together A Functional Role for CREB as a Positive Regulator of Memory Formation and LTP

Source: Experimental Neurobiology

DOI: 10.5607/en.2012.21.4.136

Author: Satoshi Kida

Institutions: Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan Science and Technology Agency

Language: English

Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Takeda Science Foundation, Sumitomo Foundation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology

Awards: G1354359220, CREB情報伝達経路による記憶固定化制御機構の解明, Understanding the mechanisms of regulation of brain function by fat-soluble nutrient factors and application of these mechanisms for the improvement of brain function and treatment for brain diseases, Analyses of roles of nutritional factors in brain function using mouse genetics and application for the treatment of brain disease, Mechanisms for phase shift of reactivated memory