Objective: To study the role of protein phosphatase 1γ and DNA methylation in learning and memory.
Methods: Mice were treated with 5-aza-cdR, an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), to observe the learning and memory of mice and the changes in the expression of PP1γ. The learning and memory ability of mice was determined by water maze. -time PCR was used to detect the mRNA transcription levels of DNMTs and PP1γ in the mouse hippocampus and Western-Blot to detect the protein expression level of PP1γ. To further explore whether the effects of 5-aza-cdR on learning and memory in mice are related to cell proliferation and apoptosis, NG108-15 neural cells were treated with 5-aza-cdR, flow cytometry, xCelligence system and luciferase reporter gene. The effects of 5-aza-cdR on cell proliferation, apoptosis and transcriptional activity of PP1γ were detected, respectively.
Results: The mice injected with 5-aza-cdR into the lateral ventricle increased the ability of spatial learning and memory, and at the same time decreased the expression of DNMTs and PP1γ in the hippocampus of the mice; 10 μmol/L 5-aza-cdR inhibited cell proliferation and decreased the transcription of PP1γ activity, but did not induce apoptosis.
Conclusion: The inhibition of PP1γ expression by 5-aza-cdR is related to learning and memory in mice.