Bistable switches for synaptic plasticity.
A persistent decrease in synaptic efficacy, called long-term depression (LTD), of the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse is thought to underlie some forms of learning and memory in the cerebellum. Simulation studies predicted that mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C would mutually activate each other and make a bistable positive feedback loop, thereby providing a molecular basis for LTD. This claim stimulated experimenters to successfully demonstrate the feedback loop and its pivotal role in cerebellar LTD.
Ogasawara
Hideaki
H
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Seika, Kyoto, Japan. ogahide@atr.jp
Kawato
Mitsuo
M
D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008954:Models, Biological; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission