Molecular motor KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memory

Abstract Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the role of the prelimbic cortex in contextual fear memory remain elusive. Here we examined the kinesin family of molecular motor proteins (KIFs) in the prelimbic cortex for their role in mediating contextual fear, a form of associative memory. K...

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Main Authors: Nadine F. Joseph, Aya Zucca, Jenna L. Wingfield, Isabel Espadas, Damon Page, Sathyanarayanan V. Puthanveettil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-11-01
Series:Molecular Brain
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-021-00873-9
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author Nadine F. Joseph
Aya Zucca
Jenna L. Wingfield
Isabel Espadas
Damon Page
Sathyanarayanan V. Puthanveettil
author_facet Nadine F. Joseph
Aya Zucca
Jenna L. Wingfield
Isabel Espadas
Damon Page
Sathyanarayanan V. Puthanveettil
author_sort Nadine F. Joseph
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the role of the prelimbic cortex in contextual fear memory remain elusive. Here we examined the kinesin family of molecular motor proteins (KIFs) in the prelimbic cortex for their role in mediating contextual fear, a form of associative memory. KIFs function as critical mediators of synaptic transmission and plasticity by their ability to modulate microtubule function and transport of gene products. However, the regulation and function of KIFs in the prelimbic cortex insofar as mediating memory consolidation is not known. We find that within one hour of contextual fear conditioning, the expression of KIF3B is upregulated in the prelimbic but not the infralimbic cortex. Importantly, lentiviral-mediated knockdown of KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex produces deficits in consolidation while reducing freezing behavior during extinction of contextual fear. We also find that the depletion of KIF3B increases spine density within prelimbic neurons. Taken together, these results illuminate a key role for KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex as far as mediating contextual fear memory.
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spelling doaj.art-d2983862208b4be4bb6b9ada8da8de192022-12-21T20:37:33ZengBMCMolecular Brain1756-66062021-11-0114111210.1186/s13041-021-00873-9Molecular motor KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memoryNadine F. Joseph0Aya Zucca1Jenna L. Wingfield2Isabel Espadas3Damon Page4Sathyanarayanan V. Puthanveettil5The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Scripps Research InstituteDepartment of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research InstituteDepartment of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research InstituteDepartment of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research InstituteDepartment of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research InstituteDepartment of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research InstituteAbstract Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the role of the prelimbic cortex in contextual fear memory remain elusive. Here we examined the kinesin family of molecular motor proteins (KIFs) in the prelimbic cortex for their role in mediating contextual fear, a form of associative memory. KIFs function as critical mediators of synaptic transmission and plasticity by their ability to modulate microtubule function and transport of gene products. However, the regulation and function of KIFs in the prelimbic cortex insofar as mediating memory consolidation is not known. We find that within one hour of contextual fear conditioning, the expression of KIF3B is upregulated in the prelimbic but not the infralimbic cortex. Importantly, lentiviral-mediated knockdown of KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex produces deficits in consolidation while reducing freezing behavior during extinction of contextual fear. We also find that the depletion of KIF3B increases spine density within prelimbic neurons. Taken together, these results illuminate a key role for KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex as far as mediating contextual fear memory.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-021-00873-9KinesinsContextual fear memoryExtinctionDendritic spines
spellingShingle Nadine F. Joseph
Aya Zucca
Jenna L. Wingfield
Isabel Espadas
Damon Page
Sathyanarayanan V. Puthanveettil
Molecular motor KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memory
Molecular Brain
Kinesins
Contextual fear memory
Extinction
Dendritic spines
title Molecular motor KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memory
title_full Molecular motor KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memory
title_fullStr Molecular motor KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memory
title_full_unstemmed Molecular motor KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memory
title_short Molecular motor KIF3B in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memory
title_sort molecular motor kif3b in the prelimbic cortex constrains the consolidation of contextual fear memory
topic Kinesins
Contextual fear memory
Extinction
Dendritic spines
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-021-00873-9
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