Publications by authors named "Kodai Sasamoto"

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) /p35 is involved in many developmental processes of the central nervous system. Cdk5/p35 is also implicated in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. Several lines of conditional Cdk5 knockout mice (KO) have been generated and have shown different outcomes for learning and memory.

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Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a serine/threonine kinase, and its activity is dependent upon an association with a neuron-specific activating subunit. It was previously reported that Cdk5 mice exhibit perinatal lethality and defective neuronal positioning. In this study, they focused on the analysis of neuronal positioning of GABAergic neurons in the forebrain.

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Proper density and morphology of dendritic spines are important for higher brain functions such as learning and memory. However, our knowledge about molecular mechanisms that regulate thedevelopment and maintenance of dendritic spines is limited. We recently reported that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is required for the development and maintenance of dendritic spines of cortical neurons in the mouse brain.

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Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) activity is dependent on its association with 1 of 2 neuron-specific activators, p35 or p39. Cdk5 and its activators play an important role in brain development as well as higher functions like synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Reduction in p35 was reported in postmortem schizophrenia brain, in which reduced dendritic spine density was observed.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), activated by p35 or p39, plays a crucial role in brain functions like learning and memory, with impairments noted in related knockout mice.
  • Researchers created a more controlled model using inducible CreER-p35 conditional knockout mice to study the specific impact of Cdk5/p35 on higher brain functions.
  • Results showed that these cKO mice had difficulties with spatial learning and memory, and their brain structure exhibited reduced dendritic spine density and issues with long-term synaptic depression, highlighting Cdk5/p35 as a potential target for treating neurological disorders.
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