The Role of PKMzeta in Memory Destabilization and Reconsolidation

对记忆的研究在确定大脑中学习和维持长期记忆所需的重要分子方面取得了长足的进步。其中一个这样的分子是蛋白质PKMzeta，它对于随着时间的推移保持记忆至关重要。然而，目前尚不清楚的是，PKMzeta及其记忆维护过程如何应对记忆的快速变化。例如，当某些存储的(稳定的)记忆被召回时，它们会变得暂时不稳定，但随后不久就会重新稳定下来。记忆如何在细胞水平上不稳定在很大程度上还不清楚，但似乎PKMzeta的变化可能是原因之一。本研究将探讨PKMzeta在记忆失稳和再稳定(或“再巩固”)中的作用。为此，我们将使用生物化学技术在蛋白质水平上研究和操纵大鼠的听觉恐惧记忆。具体地说，在这些记忆中，老鼠知道一个音调预示着一个脚印，然后在播放这个音调时表现出恐惧行为(“冻结”)。

The study of memory has come a long way in identifying important molecules in the brain necessary for learning and maintaining long-term memories. One such molecule is the protein PKMzeta which is crucial for maintaining memories over time. What is unclear, however, is how PKMzeta and its memory maintenance process copes with rapid changes to memory. For instance, when certain stored (stable) memories are recalled, they become temporarily unstable only to be re-stabilized shortly thereafter. How memories destabilize on the cellular level is largely unclear but it seems likely that changes to PKMzeta may be responsible. This research will investigate the role of PKMzeta in memory destabilization and re-stabilization (or “reconsolidation”). To do so, we will use biochemistry techniques to study and manipulate auditory fear memories in rats at the protein level. Specifically, these are memories in which a rat learns that a tone predicts a footstock and subsequently shows fear behavior (“freezing”) when the tone is played.