Study finds protein p53 regulates learning, memory and sociability in mice

Researchers have established the protein p53 as crucial for regulating sociability, repetitive habits, and hippocampus-related studying and reminiscence in mice, illuminating the connection between the protein-coding gene TP53 and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric problems like autism spectrum dysfunction.

The work is titled “Tumor suppressor p53 modulates activity-dependent synapse strengthening, autism-like habits and hippocampus-dependent studying” and seems within the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

“This examine exhibits for the primary time that p53 is linked on to autism-like habits,” mentioned Nien-Pei Tsai, an affiliate professor of molecular and integrative biology on the College of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a researcher on the Beckman Institute for Superior Science and Expertise.

In residing methods, genes act as a organic model of binary code, utilizing the letters A, C, G, and T as an alternative of ones and zeroes to spell out mobile marching orders. Some genes—referred to as coding genes—instruct cells to create proteins with particular capabilities. For instance, the gene TP53 instructs cells to create the protein p53; its job is to control how different genes are expressed.

On this examine, Tsai and his colleagues lowered hippocampal p53 ranges in mice, on the lookout for adjustments in gene expressions associated to habits. They noticed that the decreased p53 ranges:

• Promoted repetitive behavior in mice.
• Diminished sociability in mice.
• Impaired hippocampus-dependent studying and reminiscence, particularly in male mice.

The researchers additionally noticed that p53 ranges have been elevated after a interval of energetic communication between hippocampal neurons referred to as long-term potentiation. Versatile neuron firing—often known as plasticity—is said to optimistic studying and reminiscence outcomes.

In a 2018 study, Tsai and his colleagues recognized p53 as a key protein concerned within the irregular mind cell exercise seen in ASD and epilepsy. In future research, they goal to discover how p53 coordinates the expression of these autism-linked genes to information habits.