Experiential input alters the phosphorylation of specific proteins in brain membranes

The effects of a training experience that involves foot shock on the endogenous phosphorylation of membrane-bound proteins from brain were studied. Crude membrane fractions were prepared from the cerebral cortex and neostriatum of animals that had been sacrificed by quick freezing. In vitro incubation of the membranes with gamma-32P-ATP, follwed by SDS-gel electrophoresis of the phosphorylated substrates, revealed that the phosphorylation of two protein components (designated F and H-I) increased in preparations from animals that were subjected to a training experience 24 hr prior to sacrifice. These effects were greater in preparations from the neostriatum than from the cerebral cortex, and were observed in experiments using both rats and mice. Although all trained animals showed a high phosphorylation of bands F and H-I, control animals showed a greater variability in the phosphorylation of these bands. The results indicate that the phosphorylation of specific proteins may play a mediatory role in the processing of experiential information.