How hippocampal memory cells change which genes they turn on after activity
Dynamics of activity-induced transcription in single dentate granule cells
['FUNDING_R01'] · SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES · NIH-11308630
The team is looking at how individual memory-storing nerve cells in the hippocampus switch on genes after an experience, with the aim of helping people with memory problems like Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11308630 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine single dentate granule cells—a type of hippocampal neuron important for distinguishing similar memories—to see how they change gene activity after a new experience. They will use single-nucleus RNA sequencing to read gene-expression patterns in individual neurons at multiple times after stimulation, mainly using mouse models of activity-triggered memory formation. The project follows early immediate-early gene responses and later waves of activity-regulated genes that can persist for 24 hours or more. By linking these molecular changes to the dentate gyrus's role in pattern separation, the team hopes to identify processes that may go wrong in Alzheimer's disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with memory impairment or Alzheimer's could eventually benefit from findings, but this project does not enroll patients directly.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate treatment or clinical trial participation would not gain direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to molecular targets for therapies that preserve or restore memory function in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have identified immediate-early gene activity in memory circuits, but applying single-cell transcriptional profiling to long-lasting activity waves in dentate granule cells is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, UNITED STATES
- SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES — La Jolla, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GAGE, FRED H — SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
- Study coordinator: GAGE, FRED H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Alzheimer disease dementia, Alzheimer syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease