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A Novel Activator of CBP/p300 Acetyltransferases Promotes Neurogenesis and Extends Memory Duration in Adult Mice
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A Novel Activator of CBP/p300 Acetyltransferases Promotes Neurogenesis and Extends Memory Duration in Adult Mice

Snehajyoti Chatterjee, Pushpak Mizar, Raphaelle Cassel, Romain Neidl, B. Ruthrotha Selvi, Dalvoy Vasudevarao Mohankrishna, Bhusainahalli M. Vedamurthy, Anne Schneider, Olivier Bousiges, Chantal Mathis, …
The Journal of neuroscience, Vol.33(26), pp.10698-10712
06/26/2013
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5772-12.2013
PMCID: PMC6618502
PMID: 23804093
url
https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5772-12.2013View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Although the brain functions of specific acetyltransferases such as the CREB-binding protein (CBP) and p300 have been well documented using mutant transgenic mice models, studies based on their direct pharmacological activation are still missing due to the lack of cell-permeable activators. Here we present a small-molecule (TTK21) activator of the histone acetyltransferases CBP/p300, which, when conjugated to glucose-based carbon nanosphere (CSP), passed the blood-brain barrier, induced no toxicity, and reached different parts of the brain. After intraperitoneal administration in mice, CSP-TTK21 significantly acetylated histones in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Remarkably, CSP-TTK21 treatment promoted the formation of long and highly branched doublecortin-positive neurons in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus and reduced BrdU incorporation, suggesting that CBP/p300 activation favors maturation and differentiation of adult neuronal progenitors. In addition, mRNA levels of the neuroD1 differentiation marker and BDNF, a neurotrophin required for the terminal differentiation of newly generated neurons, were both increased in the hippocampus concomitantly with an enrichment of acetylated-histone on their proximal promoter. Finally, we found that CBP/p300 activation during a spatial training, while not improving retention of a recent memory, resulted in a significant extension of memory duration. This report is the first evidence for CBP/p300-mediated histone acetylation in the brain by an activator molecule, which has beneficial implications for the brain functions of adult neurogenesis and long-term memory. We propose that direct stimulation of acetyltransferase function could be useful in terms of therapeutic options for brain diseases.
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Neurosciences Neurosciences & Neurology Science & Technology

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