Decoding brain memory formation by single-cell RNA sequencing. Issue 6 (24th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sardoo, Atlas M; Zhang, Shaoqiang; Ferraro, Thomas N; Keck, Thomas M; Chen, Yong
• Is Part Of: Briefings in bioinformatics. Volume 23:Issue 6(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09-24
• Subjects: memory formation -- scRNA-seq -- snRNA-seq -- Alzheimer disease; Genetics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Genomes -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 572.80285
• DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac412
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-5463

Abstract

Abstract: To understand how distinct memories are formed and stored in the brain is an important and fundamental question in neuroscience and computational biology. A population of neurons, termed engram cells, represents the physiological manifestation of a specific memory trace and is characterized by dynamic changes in gene expression, which in turn alters the synaptic connectivity and excitability of these cells. Recent applications of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) are promising approaches for delineating the dynamic expression profiles in these subsets of neurons, and thus understanding memory-specific genes, their combinatorial patterns and regulatory networks. The aim of this article is to review and discuss the experimental and computational procedures of sc/snRNA-seq, new studies of molecular mechanisms of memory aided by sc/snRNA-seq in human brain diseases and related mouse models, and computational challenges in understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying long-term memory formation.