Molecules to remember.
"Working memory" is used for the transient storage of information in the brain. In this issue of Cell, Wang et al. (2007) now reveal how a series of molecular events involving alpha2A-adrenoceptors and a class of ion channels gated by cAMP tune the responses of neural circuits that function in working memory in mammals.
Salinas
Emilio
E
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1010 USA.
Romo
Ranulfo
R
D000818:Animals; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
C547768:ADRA2A protein, human; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2