Gene Expression and Long-Term Potentiation

小行星9411564 神经科学家对了解大脑如何储存信息有着极大的兴趣，也有着巨大的实际好处。 先前的研究表明，记忆的形成涉及蛋白质合成和神经基因表达的新模式。 在这项研究中，将研究一种学习模型，即长时程增强，以探索当新的记忆在大脑中形成时，哪些基因可能被打开或关闭。 Martinez博士和他的同事们将利用cDNA消减杂交技术，鉴定在大脑中一个叫做海马体的区域中诱导的基因表达的变化。 然后将克隆这些基因，以便通过基因测序对其进行详细分析。 这些记忆相关基因的鉴定应该增加我们对影响神经系统信息存储的细胞和遗传因素的理解。 这些研究对学习问题和处理大脑中与衰老有关的变化具有重要意义。 ***

9411564 Martinez There is great interest by neuroscientists, and a tremendous practical benefit, to understanding how the brain stores information. Previous research has suggested that memory formation involves protein synthesis and new patterns of neural gene expression. In this research a model of learning, long-term potentiation, will be examined in order to probe the genes which may be switched on, or switched off, when new memories are laid down in the brain. Dr. Martinez and his colleagues will identify changes in gene expression induced in a region of the brain called the hippocampus, using the technique of cDNA subtractive hybridization. These genes will then be cloned so that they can be analyzed in detail through gene sequencing. The identification of these memory-related genes should increase our understanding of the cellular and genetic factors which influence information storage in the nervous system. These studies should have important implications for problems of learning, and of dealing with aging-related changes in the brain. ***