Journal
NEUROBIOLOGY OF LEARNING AND MEMORY
Volume 161, Issue -, Pages 202-209Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.04.002
Keywords
Learning; Memory; Noncoding RNA; Epigenetics; Molecular biology; Plasticity
Funding
- NIH [1R21MH103812, 5R01MH105398]
- NHMRC [APP1069570, APP1083468]
- Westpac Scholars Trust
- Australian Government Research Training Program
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The Piwi pathway is a conserved gene regulatory mechanism comprised of Piwi-like proteins and Piwi-interacting RNAs, which modulates gene expression via RNA interference and through interaction with epigenetic mechanisms. The mammalian Piwi pathway has been defined by its role in transposon control during spermatogenesis; however, despite an increasing number of studies demonstrating its expression in the nervous system, relatively little is known about its function in neurons or potential contribution to behavioural regulation. We have discovered that all three Piwi-like genes are expressed in the adult mouse brain, and that viral-mediated knockdown of the Piwi-like genes Piwill and Piwil2 in the dorsal hippocampus leads to enhanced contextual fear memory without affecting generalised anxiety. These results implicate the Piwi pathway in behavioural regulation in the adult mammalian brain, likely through modulation of plasticity-related gene expression.
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