The aging clock: to ‘BMAL'icious toward learning and memory

Jason R Gerstner

doi:10.18632/aging.100144

Abstract

The aging clock: to ‘BMAL'icious toward learning and memory

Highlights

Brain and Muscle Arnt-Like 1 (BMAL1), known as MOP3 or ARNT3, is a basic helix-loop-helixPAS domain-containing transcription factor that is necessary for the generation of circadian rhythms, and has been implicated in aging
When wild-type (WT) mice are placed in an open field, their novel experience generates an increase in exploratory behavior that begins to decline over time, as the animal remembers the environment, and is considered a form of short-term memory (Figure 1A)
When WT mice are placed in this same environment on subsequent days, they exhibit further reductions in exploratory behavior, which is associated with the formation of long-term memory (Figure 1B)

Summary

Introduction

Brain and Muscle Arnt-Like 1 (BMAL1), known as MOP3 or ARNT3, is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)PAS domain-containing transcription factor that is necessary for the generation of circadian rhythms, and has been implicated in aging. A study by Kondratova et al [5] in this issue of Aging provides evidence for a core component of the circadian clock, BMAL1, which has previously been shown to significantly influence lifespan [6], in the regulation of learning and memory behavior. Kondratova et al [5] examined the role of circadian genes in adaptation, by studying the exploratory behavior and habituation to novelty in various circadian mutant mice, using the open field paradigm.

Results

Conclusion