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The Journal of Neuroscience, November 12, 2008, 28(46):11871-11882; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2307-08.2008

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Cellular/Molecular
Synapsins Are Late Activity-Induced Genes Regulated by Birdsong

Tarciso A. F. Velho and Claudio V. Mello

Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon 97006

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Claudio V. Mello, Behavioral Neuroscience Department, Oregon Health and Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006. Email: melloc{at}ohsu.edu

The consolidation of long-lasting sensory memories requires the activation of gene expression programs in the brain. Despite considerable knowledge about the early components of this response, little is known about late components (i.e., genes regulated 2–6 h after stimulation) and the relationship between early and late genes. Birdsong represents one of the best natural behaviors to study sensory-induced gene expression in awake, freely behaving animals. Here we show that the expression of several isoforms of synapsins, a group of phosphoproteins thought to regulate the dynamics of synaptic vesicle storage and release, is induced by auditory stimulation with birdsong in the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM) of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) brain. This induction occurs mainly in excitatory (non-GABAergic) neurons and is modulated (suppressed) by early song-inducible proteins. We also show that ZENK, an early song-inducible transcription factor, interacts with the syn3 promoter in vivo, consistent with a direct regulatory effect and an emerging novel view of ZENK action. These results demonstrate that synapsins are a late component of the genomic response to neuronal activation and that their expression depends on a complex set of regulatory interactions between early and late regulated genes.

Key words: immediate early genes; zenk; egr-1; zif268; ngfi-a; krox-24; neuronal plasticity; memory; auditory; synapse; cycloheximide; learning; zebra finch; songbird

Received May 21, 2008; revised Sept. 4, 2008; accepted Sept. 26, 2008.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Claudio V. Mello, Behavioral Neuroscience Department, Oregon Health and Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006. Email: melloc{at}ohsu.edu






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