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ePoster
SLEEP-DEPENDENT EPIGENETIC ENCODING OF FEAR MEMORY ENGRAMS
Xinyue Chenand 8 co-authors
Columbia University Medical Center
FENS Forum 2026 (2026)
Barcelona, Spain
Board PS03-08AM-208
Presentation
Date TBA
Board: PS03-08AM-208
Event Information
Poster Board
PS03-08AM-208
Poster
View posterAbstract
Long-term memory requires sleep to consolidate what was learned. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive, particularly in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a critical brain region for fear memory. Here, we revealed that DNA methylation enzymes in BLA are required for fear learning and memory. Using an activity-dependent tagging strategy for memory engram cells, we characterized genome-wide DNA methylation landscape and identified hundreds of differentially methylated genes (DMGs) induced by learning. Importantly, sleep deprivation reduces the engram recruitment in the BLA and reverses the learning-induced methylation changes. Integrating these DMGs with single-cell transcriptome of BLA engram cells, we uncovered a novel gene target, Mid1, and characterized its essential function in fear learning and memory. Our results showcase how DNA methylation as a key epigenetic mechanism links sleep to memory consolidation, and enable a further systematic investigation of the molecular mechanism underlying memory engram formation.
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