The Role of Protein Kinase C in Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity
Contributors: Regehr, Wade G.; Sabatini, Bernardo; Wilson, Rachel; Kaeser, Pascal; Chen, Chinfei; Murthy, Venkatesh; Littleton, Troy
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Description: Short-term synaptic plasticity results from use-dependent activity, lasts on the timescale of milliseconds to minutes, and is thought to underlie working memory and neuronal information processing. Here, we focus on two forms of short-term plasticity: 1) post-tetanic potentiation (PTP), which is induced by high-frequency stimulation, and 2) presynaptic ionotropic receptor-activated synaptic enhancement, which can be produced by the activation of presynaptic glycine receptors. Potentiation of evoked and spontaneous responses is thought to arise from elevations in presynaptic residual Ca2+, which activates one or more molecular targets to increase neurotransmitter release. However, the Ca2+ sensor protein has not yet been identified. The overall goal of this work is to elucidate the Ca2+-dependent mechanisms of short-term plasticity.
Notes: Keywords: calyx of Held, glycine receptor, post-tetanic potentiation, presynaptic calcium, protein kinase C, synaptic plasticity.

Thesis Ph.D. Harvard University 2014