Flotillin-1 is an evolutionary-conserved memory-related protein up-regulated in implicit and explicit learning paradigms. (June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monje, Francisco J.; Divisch, Isabella; Demit, Marvie; Lubec, Gert; Pollak, Daniela D.
• Is Part Of: Annals of medicine. Volume 45:Number 4(2013)
• Page Start: 301
• Page End: 307
• Publication Date: 2013-06
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.3109/07853890.2013.770637
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0785-3890

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Introduction.</italic> Studies of synaptic plasticity using the marine mollusk <italic>Aplysia californica</italic> as model system have been successfully used to identify proteins involved in learning and memory. The importance of molecular elements regulated by the learning- related neurotransmitter serotonin in <italic>Aplysia</italic> can then be explored in rodent models and finally tested for their relevance for human physiology and pathology.</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods.</italic> Herein, 2-DE gel-based electrophoresis has been used to investigate protein level changes after treatment with serotonin in <italic>Aplysia</italic> abdominal ganglia.</p> <p> <italic>Results.</italic> Twenty-one proteins have been found to be regulated by serotonin, and protein level changes of actin depolymerizing factor (ADF), deleted in azoospermia associated protein (DAZAP-1), and Flotillin-1 have been verified by Western blotting.</p> <p> <italic>Discussion.</italic> Flotillin-1, a member of the flotillin/reggie family of scaffolding proteins, has been previously found to be involved in neuritic branching and synapse formation in hippocampal neurons <italic>in vitro</italic>. However, its importance for hippocampal- dependent learning and memory in the mouse has not been examined. Here, elevated levels of Flotillin-1 in hippocampal tissue of mice trained in the Morris water maze confirmed the relevance of Flotillin-1 for memory-related processes in a mammalian system. Thus, a translational approach—from invertebrates to rodents—led to the identification of Flotillin-1 as evolutionary-conserved memory-related protein.</p> </abstract>