Biosciences Zoology/Physiology-Neurobiology, ZHMB (Center of Human and Molecular Biology) Faculty NT - Natural Science and Technology, Saarland University, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 11;7(1):7910. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08486-w.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important epigenetic regulators of mRNA translation implicated in long-lasting synaptic plasticity and long-term memory (LTM). Since recent findings demonstrated a role of epigenetic regulation of gene expression in early memory phases we investigated whether epigenetic regulation by miRNAs also contributes to early memory phases. We used the olfactory associative learning paradigm in honeybees and addressed the contribution of miRNAs depending on the conditioning strength. We selected miR-12, miR-124, and miR-125 that have been implicated in processes of neuronal plasticity and analysed their contribution to non-associative and associative learning using miRNA inhibitors. Blocking miR-12, miR-124, or miR125 neither affects gustatory sensitivity nor habituation nor sensitization. Blocking the function of miR-12 and miR-124 during and shortly after 3-trial conditioning impairs different early memory phases. Although different, the function of miR-12 and miR-124 is also required for early phases of transient memory that is induced by 1-trial conditioning. Blocking miR-125 has no effect on early memory independent of the conditioning strength. These findings demonstrate that distinct miRNAs contribute to early phases of both, transient memories as well as long-lasting memories.
microRNAs (miRNAs) 是重要的 mRNA 翻译的表观遗传调控因子，参与长时程突触可塑性和长时记忆（LTM）。由于最近的研究发现，基因表达的表观遗传调控在早期记忆阶段起作用，因此我们研究了 miRNA 的表观遗传调控是否也有助于早期记忆阶段。我们使用蜜蜂的嗅觉联想学习范式，并根据条件强度来确定 miRNA 的作用。我们选择了 miR-12、miR-124 和 miR-125，它们与神经元可塑性过程有关，并使用 miRNA 抑制剂分析了它们对非联想和联想学习的贡献。阻断 miR-12、miR-124 或 miR125 既不影响味觉敏感性，也不影响习惯化或敏感化。在 3 次试验条件作用期间和之后不久阻断 miR-12 和 miR-124 的功能会损害不同的早期记忆阶段。尽管不同，但 miR-12 和 miR-124 的功能对于由 1 次试验条件诱导的短暂记忆的早期阶段也是必需的。阻断 miR-125 对早期记忆没有影响，与条件强度无关。这些发现表明，不同的 miRNAs 有助于短暂记忆和长时记忆的早期阶段。
