Hippocampal TERT Regulates Spatial Memory Formation through Modulation of Neural Development.

ABSTRACT: The molecular mechanism of memory formation remains a mystery. Here, we show that TERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase, gene knockout (Tert^-/-) causes extremely poor ability in spatial memory formation. Knockdown of TERT in the dentate gyrus of adult hippocampus impairs spatial memory processes, while overexpression facilitates it. We find that TERT plays a critical role in neural development including dendritic development and neuritogenesis of hippocampal newborn neurons. A monosynaptic pseudotyped rabies virus retrograde tracing method shows that TERT is required for neural circuit integration of hippocampal newborn neurons. Interestingly, TERT regulated neural development and spatial memory formation in a reverse transcription activity-independent manner. Using X-ray ir

SUBMITTER: Zhou QG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5550029 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature