Nuclear Factor kappa B-dependent histone acetylation is specifically involved in persistent forms of memory.

FEDERMAN, NOEL; ZALCMAN, GISELA; CORBI, NICLOLETTA; ONORI, ANNALISA; PASSANANTI, CLAUDIO; ROMANO, ARTURO

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE

SOC NEUROSCIENCE

Lugar: Washington; Año: 2013 vol. 33 p. 7603 - 7614

0270-6474

Memory consolidation requires gene expression regulation by transcription factors (TFs), which eventually may induce chromatin modifications as histone acetylation. This mechanism is regulated by histone acetylases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs). It is not yet clear whether memory consolidation always recruits histone acetylation or it is only engaged in more persistent memories. To address this question, we utilized different strength of training for novel object recognition task in mice. Only strong training induced a long-lasting memory and an increase in hippocampal histone H3 acetylation. HAT inhibition in the hippocampus during consolidation impaired memory persistence, while HDAC inhibition caused weak memory to persist. NF-κB TF inhibition impaired memory persistence and, concomitantly, reduced the general level of H3 acetylation. Accordingly, we found an important increase in H3 acetylation at a specific NF-κB-regulated promoter region of the Camk2d gene, which was reversed by NF-kB inhibition. These results show for the first time that histone acetylation is a specific molecular signature of enduring memories.