The cerebellum allows us to rapidly adjust motor behavior to the needs of the situation. It is commonly assumed that cerebellum-based motor learning is guided by the difference between the desired and the actual behavior, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSimilar to memory formation, memory extinction is also a new learning process that requires synaptic plasticity. Actin rearrangement is fundamental for synaptic plasticity, however, whether actin rearrangement in the infralimbic cortex (IL) plays a role in memory extinction, as well as the mechanisms underlying it, remains unclear. Here, using a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) paradigm, we demonstrated increased synaptic density and actin rearrangement in the IL during the extinction of CTA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) is a novel evolutionary conserved protein which can protect and restore the function of dopaminergic neurons in the rat model of Parkinson's disease, suggesting that CDNF might be beneficial for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. CDNF is widely expressed in neurons in several brain regions including cerebral cortex, hippocampus, substantia nigra, striatum and cerebellum. Human CDNF is glycosylated and secreted from transiently transfected cells; however, the mechanism underlying CDNF secretion is currently unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) B is a receptor tyrosine kinase for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which plays a critical role in neuronal survival, differentiation and morphogenesis. Ran-binding protein in the microtubule-organizing center (RanBPM) is a cytosolic scaffold protein that has been shown to interact with protein-tyrosine kinase receptor MET, Axl/Sky, and TrkA in addition to the pan-neurotrophin receptor pan-neurotrophin receptor 75 kDa. In this study, we report RanBPM is a novel TrkB-interacting protein that contributes to BDNF-induced MAPK and Akt activation together with neuronal morphogenesis and survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling through its receptor, TrkB, modulates survival, differentiation, and synaptic activity of neurons. Both full-length TrkB (TrkB-FL) and its isoform T1 (TrkB.T1) receptors are expressed in neurons; however, whether they follow the same endocytic pathway after BDNF treatment is not known.
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