MEF2C, a transcription factor that facilitates learning and memory by negative regulation of synapse numbers and function.

Full Abstract

Learning and memory depend on the activity-dependent structural plasticity of synapses and changes in neuronal gene expression. We show that deletion of the MEF2C transcription factor in the CNS of mice impairs hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Unexpectedly, these behavioral changes were accompanied by a marked increase in the number of excitatory synapses and potentiation of basal and evoked synaptic transmission. Conversely, neuronal expression of a superactivating form of MEF2C results in a reduction of excitatory postsynaptic sites without affecting learning and memory performance. We conclude that MEF2C limits excessive synapse formation during activity-dependent refinement of synaptic connectivity and thus facilitates hippocampal-dependent learning and memory.

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Author information

Author/s: Barbosa, Ana C (AC); Kim, Mi-Sung (MS); Ertunc, Mert (M); Adachi, Megumi (M); Nelson, Erika D (ED); McAnally, John (J); Richardson, James A (JA); Kavalali, Ege T (ET); Monteggia, Lisa M (LM); Bassel-Duby, Rhonda (R); Olson, Eric N (EN);

Affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 105 (issue 27) : pp 9391-6

Dates: Created 2008/07/14; Completed 2008/08/08;

PMID: 18599438, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Dendritic Spines - metabolism
Dentate Gyrus - metabolism; ultrastructure
Gene Deletion
Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65 - metabolism
Long-Term Potentiation
Memory - physiology
Mice

Mice, Transgenic
Mutation - genetics
Myogenic Regulatory Factors - genetics; metabolism
Organ Specificity
Perforant Pathway - metabolism
Synapses - metabolism; ultrastructure
Synaptic Transmission
Transcription Factors - metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65 (0) ; Mef2c protein, mouse (0) ; Myogenic Regulatory Factors (0) ; Transcription Factors (0)

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