Research Mentor Name
Dr. Joongkyu Park
Research Mentor Email Address
joongkyu.park@wayne.edu
Institution / Department
Wayne State University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology
Document Type
Research Abstract
Research Type
basicbio
Level of Research
no
Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP), the selective strengthening of specific synapses based on recent activity, has widely been accepted as the biological mechanism responsible for learning and memory. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play a critical role in LTP, which when activated, result in a surge of postsynaptic intracellular calcium levels. The calcium rise during LTP results in the activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II alpha (CaMKIIa), which consequently enacts multiple cellular effects that ultimately result in the strengthening of synaptic connections. Previous work has examined the effects of CaMKIIa overexpression in rat hippocampi on spatial memory, however, significant but limited improvement in memory was noted. Thus, we have hypothesized that selectively increasing CaMKIIa levels at NMDAR-enriched postsynaptic regions could improve the efficiency of learning and memory formation. We previously have developed and validated a novel genetically encoded intrabody, termed VHHAN1 (VHH Anti-GluN1), and demonstrated VHHAN1’s ability to direct cytosolic proteins to NMDARs in vivo. Here, we generated an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing a VHHAN1-CaMKIIa fusion protein, which was stereotaxically injected and expressed in the mouse hippocampus. The mice were then exposed to fear conditioning experiments, where VHHAN1-CaMKIIa-expressing mice demonstrated significantly improved contextual fear memory (more than 2-fold) with no significant changes in cued memory in comparison to non-injected and CaMKIIa-overexpressing mice. Brain slices of mice were then prepared and subjected to immunohistochemistry to confirm VHHAN1-mediated CaMKIIa local enrichment in postsynaptic regions. This specific application of the VHHAN1 intrabody may serve as a valuable potential therapeutic strategy to improve memory formation in memory disorders including Alzheimer’s disease.
Disciplines
Medical Biochemistry | Medical Molecular Biology | Medical Neurobiology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Neurosciences
Recommended Citation
Chifor, Anthony; Choi, Jeongyoon Dr.; and Park, Joongkyu Dr., "Intrabody-mediated postsynaptic recruitment of CaMKIIα improves memory" (2022). Medical Student Research Symposium. 144.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/som_srs/144
Included in
Medical Biochemistry Commons, Medical Molecular Biology Commons, Medical Neurobiology Commons, Neurosciences Commons