Hippocampal TERT Regulates Spatial Memory Formation through Modulation of Neural Development

• DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.06.014
• Publication Date: 2017-07-27T18:32:09Z
• Authors: Qi-Gang Zhou; Meng-Ying Liu; Han-Woong Lee; Fuyuki Ishikawa; Sushil Devkota; Xin-Ru Shen; Xin Jin; Hai-Yin Wu; Zhigang Liu; Xiao Liu; Xun Jin; Hai-Hui Zhou; Eun Jeoung Ro; Jing Zhang; Yu Zhang; Yu-Hui Lin; Hoonkyo Suh; Dong-Ya Zhu
• Keywords: Neural Development

The molecular mechanism of memory formation remains a mystery. Here, we show that TERT, the catalytic subunit telomerase, gene knockout (Tert-/-) causes extremely poor ability in spatial formation. Knockdown TERT dentate gyrus adult hippocampus impairs processes, while overexpression facilitates it. We find plays critical role neural development including dendritic and neuritogenesis hippocampal newborn neurons. A monosynaptic pseudotyped rabies virus retrograde tracing method shows is required for circuit integration Interestingly, regulated reverse transcription activity-independent manner. Using X-ray irradiation, neurons mediate modulation processes by TERT. These observations reveal an important function through non-canonical pathway encourage TERT-based strategy to treat neurological disease-associated impairment.