Arc/Arg3.1: linking gene expression to synaptic plasticity and memory

Anastassios V Tzingounis; Roger A Nicoll

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2006.10.016

Arc/Arg3.1: linking gene expression to synaptic plasticity and memory

Neuron. 2006 Nov 9;52(3):403-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.10.016.

Authors

Anastassios V Tzingounis¹, Roger A Nicoll

Affiliation

¹ Departments of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA. tzingoun@cmpmail.ucsf.edu

PMID: 17088207
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.10.016

Abstract

Arc/Arg3.1 is an effector immediate-early gene implicated in the consolidation of memories. Although cloned a decade ago, the physiological role of Arc/Arg3.1 in the brain has remained elusive. Four papers in this issue of Neuron address this function. These studies show that Arc/Arg3.1 regulates endophilin 3 and dynamin 2, two components of the endocytosis machinery. Genetic ablation of Arc/Arg3.1 in mice or overexpression in culture suggest that Arc/Arg3.1 regulates AMPA receptor trafficking and synaptic plasticity. Finally, Arc/Arg3.1 knockout mice show memory retention deficits. These recent developments provide new insights into the function of this popular activity-dependent neuronal marker.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cytoskeletal Proteins / physiology*
Gene Expression / physiology*
Memory / physiology*
Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*

Substances

Cytoskeletal Proteins
Nerve Tissue Proteins
activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein