title: The role of alpha-CaMKII autophosphorylation in neocortical experience-dependent plasticity.
abstract: Calcium/calmodulin kinase type II (CaMKII) is a major postsynaptic density protein. CaMKII is postulated to act as a 'molecular switch', which, when triggered by a transient rise in calcium influx, becomes active for prolonged periods because of its ability to autophosphorylate. We studied experience-dependent plasticity in the barrel cortex of mice carrying a point mutation of the alpha-CaMKII gene (T286A), which abolishes this enzyme's ability to autophosphorylate. Plasticity was prevented in adult and adolescent mice homozygous for the mutation, but was normal in heterozygotes and wild-type littermates. These results provide evidence that the molecular switch hypothesis is valid for neocortical experience-dependent plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glazewski
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases