Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
09:39
Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation
Published on: June 26, 2013
Protein phosphatase 1-dependent transcriptional programs for long-term memory and plasticity
Johannes Gräff1, Kyoko Koshibu, Anne Jouvenceau
1Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty of University Zürich and Department of Biology of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Learning & Memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)
|July 2, 2010
Summary
Inhibiting protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) in adult forebrain neurons enhances long-term memory (LTM) and synaptic plasticity by modulating gene transcription. This study reveals PP1
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Gene transcription is crucial for long-term memory (LTM) and synaptic plasticity.
- Protein kinases (PKs) and phosphatases (PPs) are key regulators of neuronal signaling.
- Protein serine/threonine phosphatase 1 (PP1) is implicated in transcription-dependent memory and chromatin remodeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of nuclear Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) in regulating gene transcription in adult neurons.
- To determine the impact of inhibiting nuclear PP1 on memory and synaptic plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Selective inhibition of nuclear PP1 in forebrain neurons.
- Assessment of memory performance and long-term potentiation (LTP).
- Analysis of gene transcription modulation.
Main Results:
- Inhibition of nuclear PP1 in forebrain neurons significantly improved memory performance.
- Long-term potentiation (LTP) was enhanced following nuclear PP1 inhibition.
- Specific gene transcription events associated with signaling cascades were modulated.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear PP1 plays a critical role in regulating gene transcription for LTM and synaptic plasticity in the adult brain.
- Targeting nuclear PP1 offers a potential strategy for enhancing cognitive functions and brain plasticity.
Related Concept Videos
01:35Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:25Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
01:05Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:16Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
02:23Master Transcription Regulators
Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...