Multiple neurons encode CrebB dependent appetitive long-term memory in the mushroom body circuit

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Abstract

Lasting changes in gene expression are critical for the formation of long-term memories (LTMs), depending on the conserved CrebB transcriptional activator. While requirement of distinct neurons in defined circuits for different learning and memory phases have been studied in detail, only little is known regarding the gene regulatory changes that occur within these neurons. We here use the fruit fly as powerful model system to study the neural circuits of CrebB-dependent appetitive olfactory LTM. We edited the CrebB locus to create a GFP-tagged CrebB conditional knockout allele, allowing us to generate mutant, post-mitotic neurons with high spatial and temporal precision. Investigating CrebB-dependence within the mushroom body (MB) circuit we show that MB α/β and α'/β' neurons as well as MBON α3, but not in dopaminergic neurons require CrebB for LTM. Thus, transcriptional memory traces occur in different neurons within the same neural circuit.

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Yves F Widmer

Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Cornelia Fritsch

Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Magali M Jungo

Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Silvia Almeida

Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Boris Egger

Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Simon G Sprecher

Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland

For correspondence
simon.sprecher@unifr.ch

Competing interests
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

"This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0001-9060-3750

Funding

Bundesbehörden der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft (SynaptiX)

Simon G Sprecher

Novartis Stiftung für Medizinisch-Biologische Forschung (18A017)

Simon G Sprecher

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (CRSII5_180316)

Simon G Sprecher

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

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