1
|
Dunton KL, Hedrick NG, Meamardoost S, Ren C, Howe JR, Wang J, Root CM, Gunawan R, Komiyama T, Zhang Y, Hwang EJ. Divergent Learning-Related Transcriptional States of Cortical Glutamatergic Neurons. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0302232023. [PMID: 38238073 PMCID: PMC10919205 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0302-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Experience-dependent gene expression reshapes neural circuits, permitting the learning of knowledge and skills. Most learning involves repetitive experiences during which neurons undergo multiple stages of functional and structural plasticity. Currently, the diversity of transcriptional responses underlying dynamic plasticity during repetition-based learning is poorly understood. To close this gap, we analyzed single-nucleus transcriptomes of L2/3 glutamatergic neurons of the primary motor cortex after 3 d motor skill training or home cage control in water-restricted male mice. "Train" and "control" neurons could be discriminated with high accuracy based on expression patterns of many genes, indicating that recent experience leaves a widespread transcriptional signature across L2/3 neurons. These discriminating genes exhibited divergent modes of coregulation, differentiating neurons into discrete clusters of transcriptional states. Several states showed gene expressions associated with activity-dependent plasticity. Some of these states were also prominent in the previously published reference, suggesting that they represent both spontaneous and task-related plasticity events. Markedly, however, two states were unique to our dataset. The first state, further enriched by motor training, showed gene expression suggestive of late-stage plasticity with repeated activation, which is suitable for expected emergent neuronal ensembles that stably retain motor learning. The second state, equally found in both train and control mice, showed elevated levels of metabolic pathways and norepinephrine sensitivity, suggesting a response to common experiences specific to our experimental conditions, such as water restriction or circadian rhythm. Together, we uncovered divergent transcriptional responses across L2/3 neurons, each potentially linked with distinct features of repetition-based motor learning such as plasticity, memory, and motivation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Dunton
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881, Rhode Island
| | - Nathan G Hedrick
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - Saber Meamardoost
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo-SUNY, Buffalo 14260, New York
| | - Chi Ren
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - James R Howe
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881, Rhode Island
| | - Cory M Root
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - Rudiyanto Gunawan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo-SUNY, Buffalo 14260, New York
| | - Takaki Komiyama
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston 02881, Rhode Island
| | - Eun Jung Hwang
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, and Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093, California
- Cell Biology and Anatomy, Chicago Medical School, Stanson Toshok Center for Brain Function and Repair, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago 60064, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|