Source Paper
The Nuclear Kinase Mitogen- and Stress-Activated Protein Kinase 1 Regulates Hippocampal Chromatin Remodeling in Memory Formation
Wilson B. Chwang, J. Simon Arthur, Armin Schumacher, J. David Sweatt
Journal of Neuroscience • 2007
Pavlovian Fear Conditioning
Objective: Assessment of fear memory formation and retention in mice using Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm to investigate the role of MSK1 in chromatin remodeling during hippocampus-dependent memory formation
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Equipment2
Materials1
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Protocol Steps
Pavlovian Fear Conditioning Training
Mice undergo fear conditioning training to assess memory formation
Note: Both MSK1 knock-out and wild-type control mice are tested
View evidence from paper
“Mice lacking MSK1 show impaired Pavlovian fear conditioning and spatial learning”
Hippocampal Tissue Collection
Hippocampal tissue is collected after fear training for analysis of histone phosphorylation and acetylation
Note: Tissue analyzed for histone modifications and CREB phosphorylation
View evidence from paper
“a deficiency in histone phosphorylation and acetylation in the hippocampus after fear training”
Hippocampal Slice Preparation
Hippocampal slices are prepared from MSK1 knock-out mice for in vitro studies
Note: Slices are used to test ERK pathway activation effects
View evidence from paper
“hippocampal slices from MSK1 knock-out mice exhibit a deficiency in both histone phosphorylation and acetylation after activation of the ERK pathway in vitro”
ERK Pathway Activation
ERK pathway is activated in hippocampal slices to assess downstream effects on histone modifications
Note: In vitro activation study comparing MSK1 knock-out to wild-type
View evidence from paper
“hippocampal slices from MSK1 knock-out mice exhibit a deficiency in both histone phosphorylation and acetylation after activation of the ERK pathway in vitro”
Sodium Butyrate Injection
In vivo injections of sodium butyrate (histone deacetylase inhibitor) are administered to MSK1 knock-out mice
Note: Treatment does not alleviate fear conditioning deficit, suggesting CREB phosphorylation is critical independent of histone acetylation
View evidence from paper
“In vivo injections of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate, fail to alleviate the fear conditioning deficit in MSK1 knock-out mice”
Biochemical Analysis
Analysis of histone phosphorylation, histone acetylation, and CREB phosphorylation in hippocampal tissue
Note: CREB phosphorylation deficiency persists after sodium butyrate injection
View evidence from paper
“MSK1 knock-out mice demonstrate a deficiency in cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation after fear training, which persists after sodium butyrate injection”