title: USP46: a new piece of the memory puzzle?
abstract: Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are crucial for synaptic plasticity, and are driven by AMPA receptor (AMPAR) trafficking. Recent findings indicate that the ubiquitin-proteasome system, the main protein degradation machinery of the cell, plays a significant role in memory formation by regulating the induction and maintenance of LTP. Although previously suggested as a possibility, deubiquitination of mammalian AMPARs had not been demonstrated, and the search for an enzyme that mediates the processes continued. This Editorial Highlight discusses the relevance of a study published in the current issue of Journal of Neurochemistry, in which the authors Huo and collaborators now identified ubiquitin-specific peptidase 46 (USP46) as a specific AMPAR deubiquitinase.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D010450:Endopeptidases