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New views of Arc, a master regulator of synaptic plasticity

Nature Neuroscience volume 14, pages 279–284 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Many proteins have been implicated in synaptic and experience-dependent plasticity. However, few demonstrate the exquisite regulation of expression and breadth of functional importance as the immediate early gene product Arc. Here we review and attempt to synthesize the disparate views of Arc in neuronal function. The main conclusion garnered from this body of work is that Arc is a critical effector molecule downstream of many molecular signaling pathways and that dysregulation of Arc expression can have dire consequences for normal brain function.

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Figure 1: Regulated Arc expression modulates trafficking of AMPA receptors and stabilization of LTP and LTD.
Figure 2: Arc regulates neural circuit homeostasis.
Figure 3: Arc is required for bidirectional experience-dependent plasticity in visual cortex in vivo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    Jason D Shepherd & Mark F Bear

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  1. Jason D Shepherd
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Correspondence to Jason D Shepherd or Mark F Bear.

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Shepherd, J., Bear, M. New views of Arc, a master regulator of synaptic plasticity. Nat Neurosci 14, 279–284 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2708

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