What is the target for CaMKII?
CaMKII is one of the main targets of Ca2+/CaM. Accordingly, CaMKII activity is increased upon learning and its inhibition causes LTM impairment (Tan and Liang, 1996; Lucchesi et al., 2011; for reviews see Cammarota et al., 2002).
How does CaMKII contribute to long-term potentiation?
CaMKII translocates to the synapse during long-term potentiation (LTP), in part owing to binding of CaMKII to the NMDA-type glutamate receptor (NMDAR). Late LTP involves spine and synapse growth, the underlying mechanisms of which are not known.
What is the function of CaMKII?
CaMKII is central to the regulation of glutamatergic synapses. This conclusion has emerged largely from the study of long-term potentiation (LTP), an activity-dependent strengthening of synapses that is thought to underlie some forms of learning and memory.
What diseases might happen when there is hyperactivity of the CaMKII?
All of these processes can contribute to reduced mechanical performance of myocardium and the clinical syndrome of heart failure. Hyperactive CaMKII leads to proarrhythmic electrical remodeling (286) that is a probable cause of enhanced susceptibility to sudden death in patients with heart failure.
What does CaM kinase do?
CaM-kinases are a family of enzymes enriched in nervous tissue that are activated by binding to calcium-saturated calmodulin. Each CaM-kinase has unique properties, but all catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to a Ser or Thr residue in substrate proteins.
Is CaMKII a neurotransmitter?
Since the origins of both paired-pulse facilitation and posttetanic potentiation are largely presynaptic [33-36], these results led to the suggestion that presynaptic CaMKII is a bidirectional modulator of neurotransmitter release depending on the pattern of presynaptic activation [40].
What will happen when CaMKII is constitutively activated?
For example, the constitutively active CaMKII slows dendritic growth in young optic tectal neurons (Wu and Cline, 1998) and retrogradely regulates the stabilization of retinal axons (Zou and Cline, 1996). Furthermore, CaMKII inhibition resulted in associative learning and defects in adult flies (Griffith et al., 1994).
What is long-term depression?
In neurophysiology, long-term depression (LTD) is an activity-dependent reduction in the efficacy of neuronal synapses lasting hours or longer following a long patterned stimulus. LTD occurs in many areas of the CNS with varying mechanisms depending upon brain region and developmental progress.
What is the role of calcineurin?
Calcineurin is a ubiquitous serine/threonine protein phosphatase. It plays many important physiological roles including T-cell activation, cell cycle control, muscle and heart functions, transcription regulation, learning and memory, and apoptosis.
Where is calmodulin found?
Calmodulin is located in the cytosol of the cell. It interacts with proteins elsewhere in the cell.
What is the function of casein kinase 2?
Casein kinase 2 (CK2), a constitutively expressed and active kinase, plays key roles in an array of cellular events including transcription and translation, ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. CK2 is implicated in cancerous transformation and is a therapeutic target in anti-cancer therapy.
What activates CaM kinase?
CAMKs are activated by increases in the concentration of intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+) and calmodulin. When activated, the enzymes transfer phosphates from ATP to defined serine or threonine residues in other proteins, so they are serine/threonine-specific protein kinases.
What is the function of CaMKII in the brain?
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a Ca2+-activated enzyme that is highly abundant in the brain, where it constitutes 1–2% of the total protein. The kinase is enriched at synapses and is the main protein of the POSTSYNAPTIC DENSITY (PSD) (Fig. 1).
How many genes are there in the CaMKII family?
CaMKII comprises a family of 28 similar isoforms that are derived from four genes (α, β, γ and δ). The α- and β-subunits are the predominant isoforms in brain, where they form dodecameric holoenzymes that are composed of either one or both subunit types.
Why is CaMKII necessary for LTP induction?
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is necessary for LTP induction, is persistently activated by stimuli that elicit LTP, and can, by itself, enhance the efficacy of synaptic transmission.
What is the function of CaMKII in the postsynaptic density?
Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) — the main protein of the postsynaptic density — is a Ca 2+ /calmodulin-activated dodecameric enzyme. One of its main functional properties is its ability to phosphorylate itself.