Mapping memories: pulse-chase labeling reveals AMPA receptor dynamics during memory formation

A tool to map changes in synaptic strength during a defined time window could provide powerful insights into the mechanisms governing learning and memory. We developed a technique, Extracellular Protein Surface Labeling in Neurons (EPSILON), to map α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) insertion in vivo by pulse-chase labeling of surface AMPARs with membrane-impermeable dyes. This approach allows for single-synapse resolution maps of plasticity in genetically targeted neurons during memory formation. We investigated the relationship between synapse-level and cell-level memory encodings by mapping synaptic plasticity and cFos expression in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells upon contextual fear conditioning (CFC). We observed a strong correlation between synaptic plasticity and cFos expression, suggesting a synaptic mechanism for the association of cFos expression with memory engrams. The EPSILON technique is a useful tool for mapping synaptic plasticity and may be extended to investigate trafficking of other transmembrane proteins.

• Publication year

  2023

• Venue

  bioRxiv

• Publication date

  2023-05-29

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1101/2023.05.26.541296PMID 37292614PMCID 10246012
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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