Memory formation transpires to be by activation and persistent modification of synapses. A chain of biochemical events accompany synaptic activation and culminate in memory formation. These biochemical events are steered by interplay and modulation of various synaptic proteins, achieved by conformational changes and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of these proteins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCalcium influx through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) and voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) play major roles in postsynaptic signaling mechanisms. NMDAR subunit GluN2B is phosphorylated at Ser. Phosphorylation at this site is a prominent event in cell culture systems as well as in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCellular calcium signaling events are transient. Hence they are observed in real time using fluorescence imaging or electrophysiological methods that require sophisticated instrumentation and specialized skills. For high throughput assays simple and inexpensive techniques are desirable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInteraction of CaMKII and the GluN2B subunit of NMDA receptor is essential for synaptic plasticity events such as LTP. Synaptic targeting of CaMKII and regulation of its biochemical functions result from this interaction. GluN2B binding to the T-site of CaMKII leads to changes in substrate binding and catalytic parameters and inhibition of its own dephosphorylation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInteraction of GluN2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor with calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is critical for the induction of long term potentiation at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses. We have previously reported that CaMKII binding to GluN2B increases its affinity but abolishes the cooperativity for ATP. In the present study, we demonstrate that the reduction in S(0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCalcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is implicated to play a key role in learning and memory. NR2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is a high affinity binding partner of CaMKII at the postsynaptic membrane. NR2B binds to the T-site of CaMKII and modulates its catalysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCa(2+) influx through NMDA-type glutamate receptor at excitatory synapses causes activation of post-synaptic Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II (CaMKII) and its translocation to the NR2B subunit of NMDA receptor. The major binding site for CaMKII on NR2B undergoes phosphorylation at Ser1303, in vivo. Even though some regulatory effects of this phosphorylation are known, the mode of dephosphorylation of NR2B-Ser1303 is still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBinding of CaMKII (Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II) to the NR2B subunit of the NMDAR (N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor) in the PSD (postsynaptic density) is essential for the induction of long-term potentiation. In this study, we show that binding of NR2B to the T-site (Thr(286)-autophosphorylation site binding pocket) of CaMKII regulates its catalysis as reflected in the kinetic parameters. The apparent S(0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II) is expressed in high concentrations in the brain and is found enriched in the postsynaptic densities. The enzyme is activated by the binding of calmodulin to the autoregulatory domain in the presence of high levels of intracellular Ca2+, which causes removal of auto-inhibition from the N-terminal catalytic domain. Knowledge of the 3D (three-dimensional) structure of this enzyme at atomic resolution is restricted to the association domain, a region at the extreme C-terminus.
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