QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, May 6, 2009, 29(18):5726-5737; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4033-08.2009

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in J. Neurosci. Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Saavedra-Rodríguez, L. Articles by de Ortiz, S. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Saavedra-Rodríguez, L. Articles by de Ortiz, S. P.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Cellular/Molecular
Identification of Flap Structure-Specific Endonuclease 1 as a Factor Involved in Long-Term Memory Formation of Aversive Learning

Lorena Saavedra-Rodríguez,^1,2 Adrinel Vázquez,^1,2 Humberto G. Ortiz-Zuazaga,⁴ Nataliya E. Chorna,³ Fernando A. González,³ Lissette Andrés,¹ Karen Rodríguez,¹ Fernando Ramírez,¹ Alan Rodríguez,¹ and Sandra Peña de Ortiz^1,2

¹Molecular and Cellular Cognition Laboratory and ²Functional Genomics Research Center, Department of Biology, and ³Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3360, and ⁴High Performance Computing Facility, University of Puerto Rico, Central Administration, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Sandra Peña de Ortiz, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931-3360. Email: sandra{at}hpcf.upr.edu

We previously proposed that DNA recombination/repair processes play a role in memory formation. Here, we examined the possible role of the fen-1 gene, encoding a flap structure-specific endonuclease, in memory consolidation of conditioned taste aversion (CTA). Quantitative real-time PCR showed that amygdalar fen-1 mRNA induction was associated to the central processing of the illness experience related to CTA and to CTA itself, but not to the central processing resulting from the presentation of a novel flavor. CTA also increased expression of the Fen-1 protein in the amygdala, but not the insular cortex. In addition, double immunofluorescence analyses showed that amygdalar Fen-1 expression is mostly localized within neurons. Importantly, functional studies demonstrated that amygdalar antisense knockdown of fen-1 expression impaired consolidation, but not short-term memory, of CTA. Overall, these studies define the fen-1 endonuclease as a new DNA recombination/repair factor involved in the formation of long-term memories.

---

Received Aug. 24, 2008; revised March 11, 2009; accepted March 24, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Sandra Peña de Ortiz, Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931-3360. Email: sandra{at}hpcf.upr.edu

Related articles in J. Neurosci.:

This Week in The Journal

J. Neurosci. 2009 29: i. [Full Text]  

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help