Brain Research 121 Electrophoret1c Studies on Solubilized Proteins of Goldfish Brain

The disruption of memory formation in goldfish with inhibitors of protein synthesis suggests a possible connection between proteins and memoryL Although drugs are convenient tools for an indication of such a relationship, the demonstration of proteins directly involved in the memory process would provide more direct support for this concept. We have previously studied protein metabolism of the goldfish brain based on the incorporation of labeled amino acids into the TCA-precipitable fraction'~L In this paper we present data on proteins fractionated with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in conjunction with a method for the direct autoradiography of gels and with an enzymatic study of acetylcholinesterase (ChE). Results obtained under various conditions of training are compared. While reports from other laboratories have indicated changes in RNA13,26, '~s or protein ~,17 labeling in various species as a result of training, the present study does not reveal detectable chemical alterations in soluble proteins of the goldfish brain as a result of training.