Protein Phosphorylation and Long‐term Synaptic Plasticity

A Barria, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
V Derkach, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
TR Soderling, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0000262

Learning and memory are complex biological processes that utilize multiple mechanisms in the brain. Some of these mechanisms, which involve phosphorylation of key regulatory brain proteins, have been identified.

Keywords: learning and memory; synaptic plasticity; protein phosphorylation

Figure 1. Role of protein phosphatases in hippocampal long-term depression (LTD). Low-frequency stimulation of afferent pathways will produce a small and sustained increase in postsynaptic  Ca2+ that selectively activates calcineurin (CaN) and triggers LTD. Dephosphorylation of inhibitor 1 (I-1) by CaN causes activation of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-KII) is dephosphorylated by PP1, reversing its basal  Ca2+/calmodulin-independent activity. Also, PP1 might dephosphorylate basally phosphorylated -amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate-type glutamate receptors (AMPA-Rs).
Figure 2. Protein phosphorylation during long-term potentiation (LTP). High-frequency stimulation will produce a large increase in postsynaptic  Ca2+. This  Ca2+, complexed with calmodulin (CaM), activates calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-KII) and allows its autophosphorylation on threonine 286 (Thr286). Constitutively active CaM-KII phosphorylates -amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate-type glutamate receptors (AMPA-Rs) at serine 831 (Ser831) in the glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) subunit, increasing AMPA-R conductance. Other protein kinases are also activated. Protein kinase C (PKC) can phosphorylate the same site in GluR1 as CaM-KII, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) can turn off protein phosphatases by phosphorylating inhibitor 1 (I-1). Expression of late-phase LTP (L-LTP) requires gene transcription and protein synthesis. Transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) is turned on by phosphorylation at Ser133 by PKA or CaM-KIV.
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 References
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    Soderling TR (1995) Calcium-dependent protein kinases in learning and memory. Advances in Second Messenger and Phosphoprotein Research 30: 175–189.

Related Sub-Topics:

Learning and Memory: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms | Proteins: Structure, Function, Metabolism
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Article Title: Protein Phosphorylation and Long‐term Synaptic Plasticity
 
How to Cite close
Barria, A, Derkach, V, and Soderling, TR(Apr 2001) Protein Phosphorylation and Long‐term Synaptic Plasticity. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0000262]