Cited by 700Genomics and Chromatin DynamicsDNA Repair MechanismsMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Activity-Induced DNA Breaks Govern the Expression of Neuronal Early-Response Genes

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Madabhushi, Ram, Gao, Fan, Pfenning, Andreas R., Pan, Ling, Yamakawa, Satoko, Seo, Jinsoo, Rueda, Richard, Phan, Trongha X. +8 more·2015·Cell

Abstract

Neuronal activity causes the rapid expression of immediate early genes that are crucial for experience-driven changes to synapses, learning, and memory. Here, using both molecular and genome-wide next-generation sequencing methods, we report that neuronal activity stimulation triggers the formation of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) in the promoters of a subset of early-response genes, including Fos, Npas4, and Egr1. Generation of targeted DNA DSBs within Fos and Npas4 promoters is sufficient to induce their expression even in the absence of an external stimulus. Activity-dependent DSB formation is likely mediated by the type II topoisomerase, Topoisomerase IIβ (Topo IIβ), and knockdown of Topo IIβ attenuates both DSB formation and early-response gene expression following neuronal stimulation. Our results suggest that DSB formation is a physiological event that rapidly resolves topological constraints to early-response gene expression in neurons.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2015.05.032

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Authors
Madabhushi, R., Gao, F., Pfenning, A. R., Pan, L., Yamakawa, S., Seo, J., Rueda, R., Phan, T. X., Yamakawa, H., Pao, P.-C., Stott, R. T., Gjoneska, E., Nott, A., Cho, S., Kellis, M., & Tsai, L.-H.
Affiliations
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
  • Broad Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Tsai, Li-Huei
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-06
Volume
161
Issue
7
Pages
1592-1605
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2125644182
Cited by
700
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 47 · 2025: 66 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 66 · 2020: 62 · 2019: 71 · 2018: 74 · 2017: 62 · 2016: 61 · 2015: 11
FWCI
30.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PMC
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG046174)
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (U01HG007610, RC1HG005334, R01HG004037)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA Repair Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
DNA double-strand breaks, neuronal activity, immediate early genes, FOS, Npas4, EGR1, topoisomerase II beta, topological constraints, gene expression regulation, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory
MeSH terms
CCCTC-Binding Factor, Animals, DNA Topoisomerases, Type II, DNA-Binding Proteins, Etoposide, Gene Expression Regulation, Neurons, Repressor Proteins, Genes, fos, Mice, Early Growth Response Protein 1, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded, Genome-Wide Association Study, Transcriptome

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