Discovery reveals how an important protein helps translate
learning into memory
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have deciphered how a
protein called Arc regulates the activity of neurons—providing much-needed
clues into the brain’s ability to form long-lasting memories. These findings,
reported today in Nature Neuroscience, also offer newfound understanding as to
what goes on at the molecular level when this process becomes disrupted.
Led by Gladstone Senior Investigator Steve Finkbeiner, MD,
PhD, this research delved deep into the inner workings of synapses. Synapses
are the highly specialized junctions that process and transmit information
between neurons. Most of the synapses our brain will ever have are formed
during early brain development, but throughout our lifetimes these synapses can
be made, broken and strengthened. Synapses that are more active become
stronger, a process that is essential for forming new memories. However, this
process is also dangerous, as it can overstimulate the neurons and lead to
epileptic seizures. It must therefore be kept in check.