NF-kappa B like DNA binding activity during long-term memory consolidation in the honey bee

M. EUGENIA SIELE; FREUDENTHAL RAMIRO; ARTURO ROMANO; FERNANDO LOCATELLI

Huerta Grande

Congreso; IIRCN; 2010

TAN Y SAN

Long-term memory consolidation requires de novo protein synthesis. Activation of transcription factors from the Rel/NF-kB family is crucial for memory consolidation in rodents and crabs. The recent sequencing of the honey bee Apis mellifera genome allowed identification of plausible orthologues for almost all NF-kB family members. As in mammals, activation of NF-kB plays also role during immune response in the honey bee. In the present study we investigate the role of this factor during consolidation of olfactory memory in honey bees. First, we calibrated conditions to measure activity (DNA binding) of NF-kB from brain extracts using and electro mobility shift assay (EMSA). Second, we observed an increase in DNA binding after a training protocol that induces long-term memory formation. Third, we are performing pharmacological experiments using an inhibitor of NF-kB activation (sulfasalazine) to test the functional role of NF-kB during memory formation. The access to the honey bee genome and the nucleotide sequence admit future experiments using RNA interference to specifically down regulate and test the contribution of different NF-KB family members. These results would represent the first report about participation of NF-kB in memory formation in insects.