β-Catenin is Required for Memory Consolidation

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Kimberly A. Maguschak, Emory University; Kerry Ressler, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2008-11
• Publisher: Nature Research (part of Springer Nature)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2008, Rights Managed by Nature Publishing Group
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v11/n11/full/nn.2198.html
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Nature Neuroscience
• ISSN: 1097-6256
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 11
• Start Page: 1319
• End Page: 1326
• Grant/Funding Information: Support was provided by NIH (MH069884; DA019624; and AG025688), NSF (GRFP DGE-0234618), the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (NSF agreement IBN-987675), Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and by an NIH/NCRR base grant (P51RR000165) to Yerkes National Primate Research Center.
• Research Categories: Psychology, General; Psychology, Physiological; Psychology, Psychobiology

Abstract

Identified for its role in development, β-catenin has been implicated in neuronal synapse regulation and remodeling. We examined β-catenin expression in the adult mouse brain and its role in amygdala-dependent learning and memory. We found alterations in β-catenin mRNA and protein phosphorylation during fear memory consolidation. Such alterations correlated with a change in the association of β-catenin with cadherin. Pharmacologically, this consolidation was enhanced with lithium-mediated facilitation of β-catenin. Genetically, the role of β-catenin was confirmed with site-specific deletions of floxed β-catenin in the amygdala. Baseline locomotor, anxiety-related behaviors, and the acquisition or expression of conditioned fear were normal. However, amygdala-specific deletion prevented the normal transfer of newly formed fear learning into long-term memory. Thus, β-catenin within the amygdala may be required for the normal consolidation, but not acquisition, of fear memory. This suggests a general role for β-catenin in synaptic remodeling and stabilization underlying long-term memory in adults.