Actin-associated neurabin-protein phosphatase-1 complex regulates hippocampal plasticity.

Protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) has been implicated in the control of long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) in rat hippocampal CA1 neurons. PP1 catalytic subunits associate with multiple postsynaptic regulatory subunits, but the PP1 complexes that control hippocampal LTP and LTD in the rat hippocampus remain unidentified. The neuron-specific actin-binding protein, neurabin-I, is enriched in dendritic spines, and tethers PP1 to actin-rich postsynaptic density to regulate morphology and maturation of spines.