How mitoNEET Functionally Affects Learning and Memory in C Elegans

Sarah Faber*, Brandon Moore*, Jacob Boos and Werner Geldenhuys, School of Pharmacy, Robert C. Bryd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Field (Broad Category): Neuroscience (Health Sciences) 

Student’s Major: Neuroscience 

Learning and memory are the comprehension and recollection of experiences and skills through teaching and studying. There are multiple types of memory, including short-term, working, and long-term memory. In order for neurons to store the information learned and make it into a memory, they need proper energy in the form of ATP supplied from the mitochondria. Insufficient ATP supply to the neurons will hinder their abilities to carry out learning and memory as efficiently. MitoNEET is an outer mitochondrial membrane protein integral for mitochondrial function. Previous studies have shown that mitoNEET regulates mitochondrial oxidative capacity, a crucial component for cellular respiration and ATP production via the transfer of electrons during oxidative phosphorylation. In this study, we examined the function of mitoNEET during short-term memory acquisition and recollection in wild-type and mitoNEET knockout C. elegans strains. Both strains were trained to associate attractive odors with their food source after periods of starvation and chemotactic behaviors were analyzed to calculate a learning index, assessing the ability to acquire and retain the associative chemotactic response. The results from this study show that in aged populations, mitoNEET is crucial for the acquisition and retention of short-term memory behaviors as supported by the reduced learning index value in the mitoNEET knockout strain compared to the wild-type strain. Therefore, this study sheds light on the field of learning and memory, allowing us to understand alternative approaches for the progression of memory loss associated with normal cognitive aging and neurodegenerative diseases. 

Funding: National Institute of Health 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course Federal Work Study/p>