Expression of the immediate-early gene–encoded protein Egr-1 (zif268) during in vitro classical conditioning

AUTOR(ES)

Mokin, Maxim

FONTE

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

RESUMO

Expression of the immediate-early genes (IEGs) has been shown to be induced by activity-dependent synaptic plasticity or behavioral training and is thought to play an important role in long-term memory. In the present study, we examined the induction and expression of the IEG-encoded protein Egr-1 during an in vitro neural correlate of eyeblink classical conditioning. The results showed that Egr-1 protein expression as determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis rapidly increased during the early stages of conditioning and remained elevated during the later stages. Further, expression of Egr-1 protein required NMDA receptor activation as it was blocked by bath application of AP-5. These findings suggest that the IEG-encoded proteins such as Egr-1 are activated during relatively simple forms of learning in vertebrates. In this case, Egr-1 may have a functional role in the acquisition phase of conditioning as well as in maintaining expression of conditioned responses.

Documentos Relacionados

• An egr-1 (zif268) Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide Infused Into the Amygdala Disrupts Fear Conditioning
• The Zif268 cellular transcription factor activates expression of the Epstein-Barr virus immediate-early BRLF1 promoter.
• The immediate-early gene product Egr-1 regulates the human interleukin-2 receptor beta-chain promoter through noncanonical Egr and Sp1 binding sites.
• The immediate-early gene Egr-1 regulates the activity of the thymidine kinase promoter at the G0-to-G1 transition of the cell cycle.
• Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene expression by an antisense oligonucleotide complementary to immediate-early RNA.