Feasibility of long-term storage of graded information by the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase molecules of the postsynaptic density.
The feasibility of long-term information storage by brain type II Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase molecules is explored. Recent evidence indicates that this protein has switch-like properties. Equations are derived showing that a single kinase holoenzyme could form a bistable switch having the stability necessary to encode long-term memory, and that a group of kinase molecules, such as that contained within the postsynaptic density, could form a device capable of storing graded information.
Lisman
J E
JE
Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254.
Goldring
M A
MA
D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000201:enzymology*
D002147:Calmodulin; D011494:Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium