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| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Forebrain-specific knockout of B-raf kinase leads to deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation, learning, and memory |
| Creators Name: | Chen, A.P., Ohno, M., Giese, K.P., Kühn, R., Chen, R.L. and Silva, A.J. |
| Abstract: | Raf kinases are downstream effectors of Ras and upstream activators of the MEK-ERK cascade. Ras and MEK-ERK signaling play roles in learning and memory (L&M) and neural plasticity, but the roles of Raf kinases in L&M and plasticity are unclear. Among Raf isoforms, B-raf is preferentially expressed in the brain. To determine whether B-raf has a role in synaptic plasticity and L&M, we used the Cre-LoxP gene targeting system to derive forebrain excitatory neuron B-raf knockout mice. This conditional knockout resulted in deficits in ERK activation and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and impairments in hippocampus-dependent L&M, including spatial learning and contextual discrimination. Despite the widespread expression of B-raf, this mutation did not disrupt other forms of L&M, such as cued fear conditioning and conditioned taste aversion. Our findings demonstrate that B-raf plays a role in hippocampal ERK activation, synaptic plasticity, and L&M. |
| Keywords: | MEK-ERK, Ras, Cre-LoxP, Conditional Knockout, Water Maze, Contextual Discrimination, Fear Conditioning, Conditioned Taste Aversion, Animals, Mice |
| Source: | Journal of Neuroscience Research |
| ISSN: | 0360-4012 |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| Volume: | 83 |
| Number: | 1 |
| Page Range: | 28-38 |
| Date: | January 2006 |
| Official Publication: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.20703 |
| PubMed: | View item in PubMed |
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