title: PolyADP-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and the evolution of learning and memory.
abstract: PARP-1 is a multifunctional enzyme that can modulate gene expression. Cohen-Armon et al.(1) found that a homologue of PARP-1 is activated in the Aplysia nervous system as the animal responds to an aversive stimulus, which leads to sensitization, and during a more complex form of learning that involves feeding behavior. Significantly, inhibiting PARP-1 activation blocked the learning. Several key pathways in Aplysia neurons are activated both during learning and after injury, suggesting that mechanisms of learning evolved from primitive responses to injury. Since PARP-1 is evolutionarily conserved as a responder to various forms of stress, the finding that PARP-1 is activated during learning supports this idea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Ying-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ambron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases