Engram-specific transcriptome profiling of contextual memory consolidation

Sparse populations of neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus are causally implicated in the encoding of contextual fear memories. However, engram-specific molecular mechanisms underlying memory consolidation remain largely unknown. Here we perform unbiased RNA sequencing of DG engram neurons 24h after contextual fear conditioning to identify transcriptome changes specific to memory consolidation. DG engram neurons exhibit a highly distinct pattern of gene expression, in which CREB-dependent transcription features prominently (P=6.2x10-13), including Atf3 (P=2.4x10-41), Penk (P=1.3x10-15), and Kcnq3 (P=3.1x10-12). Moreover, we validate the functional relevance of the RNAseq findings by establishing the causal requirement of intact CREB function specifically within the DG engram during memory consolidation, and identify a novel group of CREB target genes involved in the encoding of long-term memory. Overall design: Biological replicates: Fear conditioned: n=14, No shock controls: n=4, Home cage controls:n=3. The contents 10 dVenus+ and 10 dVenus- cells were aspirated from each animal (biological replicate)

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Rao-Ruiz P, Couey JJ, Marcelo IM, Bouwkamp CG, Slump DE, Matos MR, van der Loo RJ, Martins GJ, van den Hout M, van IJcken WF, Costa RM, van den Oever MC, Kushner SA