Regulation of cognitive functions by inverse synaptic tagging mechanism of Arc

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H03328
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 46010:Neuroscience-general-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: 3 3 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域医学系, 教授 (80272417)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 長期記憶 / シナプス / 学習 / 遺伝子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The activity-regulated gene Arc is one of the genes that show robust and transient gene induction upon strong synaptic activity associated with cognitive processes in the brain. Arc is implicated in maintenance of various types of cognitive function and dysfunction of Arc-related signaling has been proposed to be associated with amnesic and psychiatric disorders. However, how Arc regulates cognitive function is still largely unknown. In this study, we investigated cognitive functions of Arc knockout (KO) mice, and found that the ability to retain memory more than months was severely impaired in Arc KO mice as compared with wild-type controls. We also found abnormality of Arc KO mice in behavioral flexibility. These findings indicate usefulness of Arc KO mice for further understanding of molecular basis of cognitive processes in the brain.

Free Research Field

分子神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

長長期記憶や行動柔軟性の異常は認知症や精神疾患、発達障害の患者に頻繁に報告されていることから、これらに関わる神経回路や分子機構の解明が望まれている。本研究で明らかになったArc遺伝子による１カ月以上続く長期記憶や行動柔軟性の調節機構は、今後これらの機能を支える神経回路の同定に向けて大きな手掛かりとなる。また、分子機構の解明は新たな創薬標的の創出に発展する可能性があり、将来の認知症や精神疾患、発達障害に対する治療法の開発へとつながることが期待される。