Chromatin Remodeling Factor SMARCA5 is Essential for Hippocampal Memory Maintenance via Metabolic Pathways in Mice

 Yu Qu1  · Nan Zhou2  · Xia Zhang1,3,4,5 · Yan Li2  · Xu‑Feng Xu1,3
1 Institute of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266001, China 
2 Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China 
3 University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, Ottawa K1Z7K4, Canada 
4 Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China 
5 Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology & College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China

Abstract

Gene transcription and new protein synthesis regulated by epigenetics play integral roles in the formation of new memories. However, as an important part of epigenetics, the function of chromatin remodeling in learning and memory has been less studied. Here, we showed that SMARCA5 (SWI/SNF related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily A, member 5), a critical chromatin remodeler, was responsible for hippocampus-dependent memory maintenance and neurogenesis. Using proteomics analysis, we found protein expression changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) after the knockdown of SMARCA5 during contextual fear conditioning (CFC) memory maintenance in mice. Moreover, SMARCA5 was revealed to participate in CFC memory maintenance via modulating the proteins of metabolic pathways such as nucleoside diphosphate kinase-3 (NME3) and aminoacylase 1 (ACY1). This work is the first to describe the role of SMARCA5 in memory maintenance and to demonstrate the involvement of metabolic pathways regulated by SMARCA5 in learning and memory.


Keywords
Epigenetic regulation; SMARCA5; Hippocampal memory; Chromatin remodeling; Metabolic pathway