RT Journal
A1 Marshall, Paul R.
A1 Davies, Joshua
A1 Zhao, Qiongyi
A1 Liau, Wei-Siang
A1 Lee, Yujin
A1 Basic, Dean
A1 Periyakaruppiah, Ambika
A1 Zajaczkowski, Esmi L.
A1 Leighton, Laura J.
A1 Madugalle, Sachithrani U.
A1 Musgrove, Mason
A1 Kielar, Marcin
A1 Brueckner, Arie Maeve
A1 Gong, Hao
A1 Ren, Haobin
A1 Walsh, Alexander
A1 Kaczmarczyk, Lech
A1 Jackson, Walker S.
A1 Chen, Alon
A1 Spitale, Robert C.
A1 Bredy, Timothy W.
T1 DNA G-Quadruplex Is a Transcriptional Control Device That Regulates Memory
JF The Journal of Neuroscience 
JO The Journal of Neuroscience 
YR 2024 
FD April 10 
VO 44 
IS 15 
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0093-23.2024 
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/44/15/e0093232024.abstract 
AB The conformational state of DNA fine-tunes the transcriptional rate and abundance of RNA. Here, we report that G-quadruplex DNA (G4-DNA) accumulates in neurons, in an experience-dependent manner, and that this is required for the transient silencing and activation of genes that are critically involved in learning and memory in male C57/BL6 mice. In addition, site-specific resolution of G4-DNA by dCas9-mediated deposition of the helicase DHX36 impairs fear extinction memory. Dynamic DNA structure states therefore represent a key molecular mechanism underlying memory consolidation.One-Sentence Summary: G4-DNA is a molecular switch that enables the temporal regulation of the gene expression underlying the formation of fear extinction memory.