Neuron type-specific translatomes in dorsal hippocampus during early memory consolidation

Long-term memory consolidation is a dynamic process that requires a heterogeneous ensemble of neurons, each with a specialized molecular signature. Considerable effort is devoted to identifying molecular changes associated with consolidation, but mostly hours or days after training, when it is already complete. Studies have shown that protein synthesis is elevated during the early stages of consolidation, but the impacted neuronal functions remain unclear. We hypothesize that mRNAs translated during early consolidation provide information on how diverse neurons involved in memory formation restructure their molecular signatures to support memory. We generate a landscape of the translatome of three neuron types in the dorsal hippocampus within the first hour of consolidation. Our results reveal unique translation programs among neurons, explained by features hard-coded in the mRNA. In this work, we uncover mechanisms controlling activity-induced translation in neurons and provide a new resource for scientists studying memory formation in health and disease.