Cascade of gene expression induced by Ca2+ signals in neurons.
To understand the cellular processes involved in learning and memory, the cellular responses of neurons to calcium (Ca2+) signals, which can be evoked via synaptic activity, should be examined. A series of investigations in primary cultures of neurons revealed that the regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression is mediated by almost the same Ca2+ signaling pathways as that of c-fos mRNA expression. Such early co-activation of both genes in response to Ca2+ signals further suggests that sets of calcium-responsive genes (CaRGs) are concurrently activated by Ca2+ signals. The products encoded by CaRGs should then evoke a variety of physiological responses in neurons with the expression of another set of genes, the products of which are directly involved in the outcomes of neuronal functions. Thus, a cascade of gene expression can be induced by Ca2+ signals evoked via synaptic activity. It is of particular interest to identify the CaRGs and investigate the regulational mechanisms of their expression. A cellular approach using primary cultures of neurons would therefore lead to a better understanding of the intracellular processes involved in learning and memory.
Tsuda
M
M
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D002118:Calcium