Localization of phosphorylated CREB in the honeybee brain

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Localization of phosphorylated CREB in the honeybee brain Katrin Gehring1*, Karin Heufelder1 and Dorothea Eisenhardt1 1 Freie Universität Berlin, Neurobiology, Germany The transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) is involved in regulation of growth, differentiation, neuronal viability and circadian rhythms. It also plays an essential role in the formation of long term memory (LTM). CREB induces gene expression after being phosphorylated by several kinases. A huge body of work analyzed this CREB phosphorylation but little is known about its role in the honeybee (Apis mellifera), a well-known invertebrate model system for learning and memory. Our aim is to characterize Apis mellifera CREB and localize CREB dependent processes in the honeybee brain. We use different antibodies to detect CREB and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) in bee homogenate and in fixed bee brain slices. Counterstaining of synaptic proteins and DNA were performed to further characterize pCREB containing neurons. pCREB immunoreactivity can be observed in a wide range of cell nuclei including nuclei of neurons known to be involved in processing sensory information, for example intrinsic mushroom body neurons (Kenyon cells). In contrast to the assumed distribution of pCREB, which, as a transcription factor, is thought to be predominantly located in the nucleus, we also find strong immunoreactivity in axonal and dendritic parts of Kenyon cells. We investigated the distribution of pCREB immunoreactivity in the honeybee brain in bees with different age. We compared one day old bees with more experienced bees and found increased pCREB levels in aged bees and, focusing on specific brain neuropils, an ongoing redistribution and sharpening of the pCREB signal in distinct neuronal subsets. Since the antennal lobes and the mushroom bodies are involved in processing sensory information, ongoing experiments focus on changes of pCREB and CREB levels in these neuropils after learning. Keywords: CREB, Honeybee Conference: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (see alternatives below as well) Topic: Learning, Memory and Behavioral Plasticity Citation: Gehring K, Heufelder K and Eisenhardt D (2012). Localization of phosphorylated CREB in the honeybee brain. Conference Abstract: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00149 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 27 Apr 2012; Published Online: 07 Jul 2012. * Correspondence: Ms. Katrin Gehring, Freie Universität Berlin, Neurobiology, Berlin, Germany, katrin.gehring@fu-berlin.de Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Katrin Gehring Karin Heufelder Dorothea Eisenhardt Google Katrin Gehring Karin Heufelder Dorothea Eisenhardt Google Scholar Katrin Gehring Karin Heufelder Dorothea Eisenhardt PubMed Katrin Gehring Karin Heufelder Dorothea Eisenhardt Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.