Skip to content
Mental-health — Health — Faculty — Funding — Learning — Nutrition — Campus — Graduate — Science

DNA fragmentation occurs as a part of the memory-forming process.

DNA breaks in brain cells to expose memory-linked genes, study reveals, extending this process to additional cell types beyond neurons.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
In a groundbreaking discovery, brain cells have been found to frequently open their DNA, breaking...
In a groundbreaking discovery, brain cells have been found to frequently open their DNA, breaking both strands, to access genes crucial for memory storage. This process, previously believed to occur primarily in neurons, has been detected in various supporting cell types as well, suggesting a broader role in brain function.

DNA fragmentation occurs as a part of the memory-forming process.

Let's dive into the wild world of brain cells, memory, and DNA breaks. Who'da thought remembering a terrifying experience could be so darn dangerous?

Turns out, our brain cells have got quite the risky move up their sleeves when they need to remember stuff quick. In a rush to recall those memories, they open up their DNA in several spots, yep, you heard that right, more than we initially thought, according to a recent study. This whacky action provides fast access to memory-making instructions, but it's not all sunshine and roses; the repair process can become faulty with age, and that's scary as hell.

Professor Li-Huei Tsai, Picower Professor of Neuroscience and director of The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT, says this finding is both fascinating and concerning. "Memory formation is a top priority for brain function, but these new results revealing cells breaking their DNA multiply in numerous locations are still striking," she exclaims.

Now, let's get to the nitty-gritty details. In 2015, Tsai's lab first demonstrated neuronal activity caused DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and that these bad boys triggered rapid gene expression. Yet, they failed to capture the full extent in a real-life memory-forming context. In this shiny new study published in July's edition of PLOS ONE, researchers set out to investigate the full spectrum of DSB activity in learning and memory.

To do that, mice got little jolts of electricity to their feet when they entered a box, conditioning them to fear the heck out of that space. Then, the researchers measured DSBs and gene expression in the brains of these terrified mice, focusing on various cells in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, two brain regions essential for memory formation. Brain cells, or neurons, experienced a double in DSBs after fear memory creation, affecting over 300 genes in each region.

Surprisingly, it wasn't just neurons kicking the DNA breakdown habit, but also non-neuronal brain cells, or glia, too. In particular, powerhouse glia called astrocytes showed changes in the expression of hundreds of genes after fear learning, implying they may have a more significant role in stress responses than initially thought.

But wait, there's more! When the researchers looked at affected genes, they found many involved in forming those brain connections we humans like to call synapses. Scary stuff, considering learning and memories arise from changing these delicate connections.

So, does this DSB rampage pose a threat to later brain health? It's still up in the air, but the new study only adds fuel to the fire that it might be the case. As more research unfolds, we'll soon see if those DNA-fueled memory-making moments could end up giving us brain trouble down the line.

The National Institutes of Health, The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, and the JPB Foundation funded this hair-raising adventure into the deepest, darkest corners of the brain. Yikes, it looks like life's experiences do indeed affect us more than we ever thought possible!

  1. Neuroscience research reveals that brain cells open up their DNA in multiple spots during rapid memory recall, a finding that both fascinates and concerns Professor Li-Huei Tsai.
  2. The repair process of DNA breaks in brain cells can become faulty with age, which is a cause for concern in the health and wellness community.
  3. In a recent study published in PLOS ONE, researchers focused on neurological disorders and investigated the full spectrum of DNA double-strand breaks activity in learning and memory.
  4. The study found that not only neurons, but also non-neuronal brain cells, or glia, experienced DNA breaks after fear memory creation, with astrocytes showing changes in the expression of hundreds of genes.
  5. Many of the affected genes in the study are involved in forming brain synapses, raising concerns about the potential threat to later brain health.
  6. Alterations in synapses are crucial for learning and memory formation, making this DNA-breaks phenomenon a topic of great interest in the field of medical-conditions and mental health.
  7. Funding for this study came from the National Institutes of Health, The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research, and the JPB Foundation, with the research suggesting that life's experiences could have a significant impact on our brain health and aging.
  8. As more articles on these findings are published and therapies and treatments are developed, we may better understand the role of neuroscience in managing and preventing neurodegenerative disorders.
  9. Fitness and exercise can also play a critical role in maintaining brain health and addressing neurological disorders, making it important to prioritize a holistic approach to health and wellness.
  10. Nurturing a healthy and balanced lifestyle, incorporating proper nutrition, mental-health support, and regular exercise, can help protect the brain from potential harm caused by DNA breaks during rapid memory recall.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest