Expression and synaptic targeting of the neuronal immediate-early gene Arc

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The neuronal immediate early gene Arc is dynamically regulated by synaptic activity and tightly linked to information processing in neuronal circuits. Recent studies have indicated that Arc plays roles in synaptic plasticity/homeostasis and long-term memory formation. However, molecular mechanisms of Arc functions at the synapse have still remained unclear. We therefore investigated 1) interaction between Arc and postsynaptic protein, 2) activity-dependent targeting of Arc into synapses, and 3) activity-dependent regulation of Arc expression. As results, we have obtained following findings.1) Arc interacted with proteins in the endocytic machinery, and regulated glutamate receptors at the synapse (Chowdhury et al., Neuron, 52, p445-459, 2007).2) Synaptic targeting of Arc was dynamically regulated by neuronal activity. Protein-protein interaction was likely involved in this process (Okuno et al., submitted).3) Several regulatory elements that were critical for activity-dependent, neuron-specific expression, were characterized in the Arc promoter.4) Interaction between Arc and an Arc-binding protein was visualized in dendritic spines using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique.