Manipulating Engram Histone Acetylation Alters Memory Consolidation

The epigenome provides the brain with a nucleus-templated form of plasticity that is of fundamental importance for learning and memory. Of the various types of epigenetic modifications, elevations in histone acetylation have been shown to accompany learning and memory, yet the role this epigenetic modification plays within specific cell populations has remained unexplored. Here, we developed a genetic approach to manipulate whole-genome histone acetylation in memory-bearing neuronal ensembles. By showing that an increase in histone acetylation promotes fear memory recall, while its downregulation has the opposite effect, we revealed the existence of a functional relationship between histone acetylation and memory expression within memory-bearing engram cells.