In response to environmental changes occurring throughout development and adult life, the brain continually reorganizes itself by altering the pattern and strength of these neural connections. Such plasticity of synapses allows the brain to store information and is believed to form the basis of learning and memory.
Voltage gated ion channels are critically important in synaptic function.
These questions are addressed using recombinant DNA, biochemical, electrphysiological, immunocytochemical and fluorescent techniques. Levin, G., Keren, T., Peretz, T., Chikvashvilli, D., Thornhill, W.B. and Lotan, I. Regulation of RC K1 currents with a cAMP analog via enhanced protein synthesis and direct channel phosphorylation. FEBS Lett. in press. Singer-Lahat, D., Dascal, N. and Lotan, I. Modal behavior of the Kv1.1 channel conferred by the Kv b 1.1 subunit. Singer-Lahat, D., Dascal, N., Mittelman, L., Peleg, S., Lotan, I. Imaging plasma membrane proteins in large membrane patches of Xenopus oocytes.