Research Histone acetylation is recruited in consolidation as a molecular feature of stronger memories

Gene expression is a key process for memory consolidation. Recently, the participation of epigenetic mechanisms like histone acetylation was evidenced in long-term memories. However, until now the training strength required and the persistence of the chromatin acetylation recruited are not well characterized. Here we studied whether histone acetylation is involved in consolidation in invertebrates, whether it depends on the training strength, and whether it is a permanent or transient mechanism. We used a well-characterized memory model in invertebrates, the context-signal memory in crabs. Our results show no changes in histone 3 (H3) acetylation during consolidation of a standard training protocol. However, strong training induced a significant increase in H3 acetylation 1-h post-training, returning to basal levels afterward. Accordingly, the administration of histone deacetylase inhibitors sodium butyrate (NaB) and trichostatin A allowed a weak training to induce long-term memory. NaB enhanced memory in two phases during consolidation. These findings support that H3 acetylation (1) is involved in consolidation, (2) occurs only after strong training, (3) is a transient process, and (4) memory is enhanced in two phases. The coincidence of these phases with other mechanisms of gene expression is discussed. Regulation of gene expression is postulated as a critical process for long-lasting storage of memories (Agranoff et al. 1967; Goelet et al. 1986). In order to persist, memory storage involves changes in the gene expression pattern. Involvement of epigenetic mechanisms was postulated to provide potentially stable marks in the genome for continuous regulation of specific gene expression (Tsankov