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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

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Published on: June 26, 2013
The role of alpha-CaMKII autophosphorylation in neocortical experience-dependent plasticity
S Glazewski1, K P Giese, A Silva
1Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK.
Abstract:
Calcium/calmodulin kinase type II (CaMKII) is a major postsynaptic density protein. CaMKII is postulated to act as a 'molecular switch', which, when triggered by a transient rise in calcium influx, becomes active for prolonged periods because of its ability to autophosphorylate. We studied experience-dependent plasticity in the barrel cortex of mice carrying a point mutation of the alpha-CaMKII gene (T286A), which abolishes this enzyme's ability to autophosphorylate. Plasticity was prevented in adult and adolescent mice homozygous for the mutation, but was normal in heterozygotes and wild-type littermates. These results provide evidence that the molecular switch hypothesis is valid for neocortical experience-dependent plasticity.
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