PSD-95 and Learning
Professor Seth Grant highlights PSD95 as an important example of a protein associated with a neurotransmitter receptor that affects learning.
PSD95, also known as post-synaptic density 95, is very important in the history of learning research because it binds to a neurotransmitter receptor. If you lack PSD95 then you have great difficulty learning, although the receptor still works. This establishes the fact that proteins associated with neurotransmitter receptors are instrumental in the learning process.
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In studies of PSD95, Professor Seth Grant's group showed that memories are formed when neurotransmitter receptors associate with proteins.
Professor Seth Grant explains that taking cocaine reduces the expression of the PSD95 protein, which can lead to memory impairments.
Discs, large homolog 4 (DLG4) is a gene associated with learning and memory. The human DLG4 protein is 99% identical to the rat and mouse PSD-95 proteins.
Professor Seth Grant introduced the word 'hebbosome' to describe the multiprotein complex that converts neural activity patterns into a memory trace.
This method uses homologous recombination to disable a gene of interest to produce a genetic knockout.
An interactive chromosome map of the genes and loci associated with learning and memory.
Increased neuregulin signaling in schizophrenia may suppress the NMDA receptor, leading to lowered glutamate levels.
An interactive chromosome map of the genes and loci associated with schizophrenia.
Students will experiment with an interactive animation to compare mutant and wild-type mice in a water maze. They will analyze data and discuss findings of a research paper.
Learning and memory are two intimately linked cognitive processes that stem from interactions with the environment (experience).