Paul R Marshall, Joshua Davies, Qiongyi Zhao, Wei-Siang Liau, Yujin Lee, Dean Basic, Ambika Periyakaruppiah, Esmi L Zajaczkowski, Laura J Leighton, Sachithrani U Madugalle, Mason Musgrove, Marcin Kielar, Arie Maeve Brueckner, Hao Gong, Haobin Ren, Alexander Walsh, Lech Kaczmarczyk, Walker S Jackson, Alon Chen, Robert C Spitale, Timothy W Bredy
The conformational state of DNA fine-tunes the transcriptional rate and abundance of RNA. Here we report that DNA G-quadruplex (G4-DNA) accumulates in neurons, in an experience-dependent manner, and that this is required for the transient silencing and activation of genes that are critically involved in learning and memory in male C57/BL6 mice. In addition, site-specific resolution of G4-DNA by dCas9-mediated deposition of the helicase DHX36 impairs fear extinction memory. Dynamic DNA structure states therefore represent a key molecular mechanism underlying memory consolidation...
February 28, 2024: Journal of Neuroscience