Abstract
Neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2) is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) PAS domain transcription factor expressed in multiple regions of the vertebrate brain. Targeted insertion of a beta-galactosidase reporter gene (lacZ) resulted in the production of an NPAS2-lacZ fusion protein and an altered form of NPAS2 lacking the bHLH domain. The neuroanatomical expression pattern of NPAS2-lacZ was temporally and spatially coincident with formation of the mature frontal association/limbic forebrain pathway. NPAS2-deficient mice were subjected to a series of behavioral tests and were found to exhibit deficits in the long-term memory arm of the cued and contextual fear task. Thus, NPAS2 may serve a dedicated regulatory role in the acquisition of specific types of memory.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Avoidance Learning
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Behavior, Animal
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Brain / metabolism
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Brain / physiology*
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Conditioning, Psychological
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Cues
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Fear
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Gene Targeting
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Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs
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Learning / physiology*
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Limbic System / metabolism
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Limbic System / physiology
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Male
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Memory / physiology*
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Mice
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
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Prosencephalon / metabolism
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Prosencephalon / physiology
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Touch
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Transcription Factors / chemistry
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
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Transcriptional Activation
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Transfection
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beta-Galactosidase / metabolism
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Npas2 protein, mouse
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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beta-Galactosidase