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Updated: Apr 17, 2026
High Resolution Quantitative Synaptic Proteome Profiling of Mouse Brain Regions After Auditory Discrimination Learning
Published on: December 15, 2016
Time-dependent changes in the mouse hippocampal synaptic membrane proteome after contextual fear conditioning
Priyanka Rao-Ruiz1, Karen E Carney1,2,3, Nikhil Pandya1
1Department of Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
This study reveals dynamic proteomic changes in mouse hippocampal synapses following fear learning. Key proteins involved in endocytosis and glutamate signaling are altered, indicating a complex interplay between memory formation and stress.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus is crucial for memory formation.
- Previous molecular analyses of synapses during learning focused on limited protein groups, leaving global dynamic changes unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal changes in the mouse hippocampal synaptic membrane proteome after contextual fear learning.
- To compare proteomic alterations between a fear memory-forming group and a fear memory-deficient group.
Main Methods:
- Proteomic analysis of mouse hippocampal synaptic membranes at 1 and 4 hours post-conditioning.
- Comparison of protein expression between delayed-shock (fear memory) and immediate-shock (fear memory-deficient) groups.
Main Results:
- No significant protein expression changes were observed at 1 hour post-conditioning.
- At 4 hours, 423 proteins were significantly regulated. 164 proteins showed temporal regulation after delayed shock, and 273 after immediate shock.
- 48 differentially regulated proteins, including those in endocytosis, glutamate signaling, and neurotransmitter metabolism, were regulated in opposite directions in both protocols, suggesting learning and stress interactions.
Conclusions:
- The study provides novel insights into diverse and dynamic proteomic changes at hippocampal synapses during contextual fear-memory learning.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between learning processes and stress responses at the molecular level within synapses.
