Song-induced phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein in the songbird brain.
We have investigated the participation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the response of the songbird brain to a natural auditory stimulus, a conspecific song. The cells in the two song control nuclei, the higher vocal center (HVC) and area X of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), were intensely stained with an anti-CREB monoclonal antibody. Double-labeling studies showed that CREB immunoreactivity was detected only in area X-projecting neurons in the HVC. The cloned CREB cDNA from zebra finches (zCREB) is highly homologous to mammalian delta CREB. Phosphorylation of zCREB at Ser119 in area X-projecting HVC neurons was induced by hearing tape-recorded conspecific songs of zebra finches, but not by birdsongs of another species or white noise. These results raise the possibility that zCREB plays a crucial role in the sensory process of song learning.
Sakaguchi
H
H
Department of Physiology, Dokkyo University, School of Medicine, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
Wada
K
K
Maekawa
M
M
Watsuji
T
T
Hagiwara
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D020308:Songbirds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D018076:DNA, Complementary