Molecular approaches to the study of long-term sensitization in Aplysia californica.
In order to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of long-term sensitization in Aplysia new tools are being used to study the synaptic facilitation in the sensory-motor connection which mediates the gill-and-siphon withdrawal reflex. The supposition that long-term changes in neuronal properties share molecular pathways with other cells during development and differentiation points towards specific candidate genes as well as towards a general experimental strategy designed to find proteins which might mediate these changes. The unique properties of Aplysia cell biology may, in addition, provide a means to examine their specific roles in the triggering of the changes, as well as the nature of the changes themselves.
Knapp
M R
MR
New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY 10032.
D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*