Timothy Jarome

Research in the Jarome lab is focused on elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of memory formation and storage, with an emphasis on understanding how stressful or traumatic events alters brain chemistry that drives future behavioral and physiological responses. These future responses are often maladaptive, resulting in a variety health concerns, and can be passed to future generations through “epigenetic” mechanisms. The lab focuses on mechanisms of initial memory storage and those involved in memory modification following retrieval (recall). Currently, the lab has several areas of interest:

• An epigenetic role for the ubiquitin-proteasome system in fear memory formation
• Epigenetic mechanisms of fear memory modification following retrieval

To address these topics, we combine a traditional rodent behavioral paradigm (Pavlovian fear conditioning) with a variety of traditional and modern molecular biology and neuroscience techniques. This includes using in vivo pharmacology, siRNA-mediated gene knockdown, and CRIPSR-dCas9 transcriptional editing to manipulate specific genes and/or cellular processes during learning or memory retrieval and analyzing the effects of these manipulations on the cellular memory storage process using western blotting, qRT-PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation, methylated DNA immunoprecipitation, bisulfite sequencing and other molecular biology methods. Students who join the lab will have the opportunity to learn these techniques and, as they advance, will have the opportunity to take projects in new directions or initiate new topics.

Prospective students interested in joining the lab should contact Dr. Jarome by email.   

Webb, W.M. Sanchez, R.G., Perez, G., Butler, A.A., Hauser, R.M., Rich, M.C., O’Bierne, A.L., Jarome, T.J. & Lubin, F.D. (2017). Dynamic association of epigenetic H3K4me3 and DNA 5hmc marks in the dorsal hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex following reactivation of a fear memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 142, 66-78

Kwapis, J.L., Jarome, T.J., Ferrara, N.C., & Helmstetter, F.J. (2017). Updating procedures can reorganize the neural circuit supporting a fear memory. Neuropsychopharmacology, 42(8), 1688-1697.

Maity, S.*, Jarome, T.J.*, Blair, J., Lubin, F.D. & Nguyen P.V. (2016). Norepinephrine goes nuclear: Epigenetic modifications during long-lasting synaptic potentiation triggered by activation of noradrenergic receptors. Journal of Physiology, 594.4, 863-881.

     *denotes co-first authorship

Jarome, T.J.*, Ferrara, N.C.*, Kwapis, J.L. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2016).  CaMKII regulates proteasome phosphorylation and activity and promotes memory destabilization following retrieval.  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 128, 103-109.

     *denotes co-first authorship

Jarome, T.J.*, Ferrara, N.C.* Kwapis, J.L. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2015).  Contextual information drives the reconsolidation-dependent updating of retrieved fear memories.  Neuropsychopharmacology, 40, 3044-3052.

     *denotes co-first authorship

Jarome, T.J., Butler, A.A., Nichols, J.N., Pacheco, N.L. & Lubin, F.D. (2015).  NF-B mediates Gadd45b expression and DNA demethylation in the hippocampus during fear memory formation.  Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 8:54, doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00054

Kwapis, J.L., Jarome, T.J., Lee, J.L., & Helmstetter, F.J. (2015). The retrosplenial cortex is involved in the formation of memory for context and trace fear conditioning. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 123, 110-116.

Kwapis, J.L., Jarome, T.J., & Helmstetter, F.J. (2015). The role of the medial prefrontal cortex in trace fear extinction. Learning and Memory, 22, 39-46.

Jarome, T.J., Thomas, J.S. & Lubin, F.D. (2014). The epigenetic basis of memory formation and storage. Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science, 128C, 1-27. [Book chapter]

Jarome, T.J. & Lubin, F.D. (2014).  Epigenetic mechanisms of memory formation and reconsolidation.  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 115, 116-127. [Review]

Jarome, T.J. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2014).  Protein degradation and protein synthesis in long-term memory formation.  Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 7:61. [Review]

Gupta-Agarwal, S., Jarome, T.J., Fernandez, J. & Lubin, F.D. (2014).  NMDA receptor- and ERK-dependent histone methylation changes in the lateral amygdala bidirectionally regulate fear memory formation.  Learning and Memory, 21, 351-362.

Kwapis, J.L., Jarome, T.J., Lee, J.L., Gilmartin, M.R. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2014).  Extinguishing trace fear engages the retrosplenial cortex rather than the amygdala.  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 113, 41-54.

Jarome, T.J., Kwapis, J.L., Hallengren, J.J., Wilson, S.M. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2014).  The ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) is a critical regulator of long-term memory formation.  Learning and Memory, 21, 9-13.

Reis, D.S., Jarome, T.J. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2013).  Memory formation for trace fear conditioning requires ubiquitin-proteasome mediated protein degradation in the prefrontal cortex.  Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 7:150.

Jarome, T.J., Kwapis, J.L., Ruenzel, W.L. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2013).  CaMKII, but not Protein Kinase A, regulates Rpt6 phosphorylation and proteasome activity during long-term memory formation.  Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 7:115.

Jarome, T.J. & Lubin, F.D. (2013).  Histone lysine methylation: Critical regulator of memory and behavior.  Reviews in the Neurosciences, 24, 375-387. [Review]

Jarome, T.J. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2013).  The ubiquitin-proteasome system as a critical regulator of synaptic plasticity and long-term memory formation.  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 105, 107-116. [Review]

Kwapis,J.L., Jarome, T.J., Gilmartin, M.R. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2012).  Intra-amygdala infusion of the protein kinase Mzeta inhibitor ZIP disrupts context fear memory.  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 98(2), 148-153.

Jarome, T.J., Kwapis, J.L., Werner, C.T., Parsons, R.G., Gafford, G.M. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2012). The timing of multiple retrieval events can alter GluR1 phosphorylation and the requirement for protein synthesis in fear memory reconsolidation.  Learning and Memory, 19(7), 300-306.

Kwapis, J.L., Jarome, T.J., Schiff, J. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2011).  Memory consolidation in both trace and delay fear conditioning is disrupted by intra-amygdala infusion of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin.  Learning and Memory, 18, 728-732.

Jarome, T.J., Werner, C.T., Kwapis, J.L. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2011). Activity dependent protein degradation is critical for the formation and stability of fear memory in the amygdala.  PLoS One, 6(9), e24349. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024349.

Lonergan, M.E., Gafford, G.M., Jarome, T.J. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2010). Time-dependent expression of Arc and zif268 after acquisition of fear conditioning. Neural Plasticity, e139891. DOI: 10.1155/2010/139891

Jarome, T.J., Kwapis, J.L., Nye, S.N. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2010). Introgression of Brown Norway chromosome 1 onto Fawn Hooded Hypertensive background rescues long-term fear memory deficits. Behavior Genetics, 40(1), 85-92.

Lee, T., Jarome, T., Li, S-J., Kim, J.J. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2009). Chronic stress selectively reduces hippocampal volume in rats: a longitudinal MRI study. Neuroreport, 20, 1554-1558.

Kwapis, J.L., Jarome, T.J., Lonergan, M.E. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2009). Inhibition of protein kinase Mz erases an established fear memory in the amygdala but not the hippocampus. Behavioral Neuroscience, 123(4), 844-850.

Book Chapters

Jarome, T.J. & Helmstetter, F.J. (2017). Ubiquitin-proteasome system, protein degradation, and memory. In Vol 4 of Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference, 2^nd edition, pp. 279-292. Edited by Susan J. Sara. Oxford: Academic Press.

For a full list of Dr. Jarome’s publications, please visit PUMBED https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=jarome+t