Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a form of synaptic plasticity that is an excellent model for the molecular mechanisms that underlie memory. LTP, like memory, is persistent, and both are widely believed to be maintained by a coordinated genomic response. Recently, a novel class of non-coding RNA, microRNA, has been implicated in the regulation of LTP. MicroRNA negatively regulate protein synthesis by binding to specific messenger RNA response elements. The aim of this review is to summarize experimental evidence for the proposal that microRNA play a major role in the regulation of LTP. We discuss a growing body of research which indicates that specific microRNA regulate synaptic proteins relevant to LTP maintenance, as well as studies that have reported differential expression of microRNA in response to LTP induction. We conclude that microRNA are ideally suited to contribute to the regulation of LTP-related gene expression; microRNA are pleiotropic, synaptically located, tightly regulated, and function in response to synaptic activity. The potential impact of microRNA on LTP maintenance as regulators of gene expression is enormous.
Highlights
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a form of synaptic plasticity whereby high frequency stimulation (HFS) induces a long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission
Specific miRNA are crucial for development and function of both neurons and glia (Sayed and Abdellatif, 2011) and miRNA dysfunction is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterized by memory impairment (Delay et al, 2012; Kim et al, 2014)
MicroRNA BIOGENESIS AND FUNCTION: KEY CHARACTERISTICS RELEVANT TO LTP We propose that miRNA are ideally suited to control the rapid, coordinated and region-specific translation that underlies LTP maintenance
Summary
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a form of synaptic plasticity whereby high frequency stimulation (HFS) induces a long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission. Many of its key properties are analogous to those of long-term memory, including input specificity, rapid induction, and co-operativity (Abraham and Williams, 2008). The potential for persistent LTP was noted in the earliest studies (Bliss and GardnerMedwin, 1973), we still do not understand how the mechanisms underlying the stabilization of synaptic change allow LTP to persist for periods of days or weeks. MicroRNA (miRNA) are endogenous non-coding RNA that act as post-transcriptional inhibitors of protein synthesis. They function by base-pairing with miRNA response elements (MREs) located in target messenger RNA (mRNA). This occurs within the ribonuclear protein complex known as the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC; Kawamata and Tomari, 2010). Specific miRNA are crucial for development and function of both neurons and glia (Sayed and Abdellatif, 2011) and miRNA dysfunction is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterized by memory impairment (Delay et al, 2012; Kim et al, 2014)
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have