1 research outputs found
RISC activity in hippocampus is essential for contextual memory
RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) mediates post-transcriptional control of gene expression and
contains Argonaute 2 (AGO2) protein as a central effector of cleavage or inhibition of mRNA translation.
In the brain, the RISC pathway is involved in neuronal functions, such as synaptic development and local
protein synthesis, which are potentially critical for memory. In this study, we examined the role of RISC
in memory formation in rodents, by silencing AGO2 expression in dorsal hippocampus of C57BL/6 mice
and submitting animals to hippocampus-related tasks. One week after surgery, AGO2 downregulation
impaired both short-term and long-term contextual fear memories. Conversely, no long-lasting effects
were observed three weeks after surgery, when AGO2 levels were re-established. These results show that
altered RISC activity severely affects learning and memory processes in rodents