AlphaCaMKII autophosphorylation contributes to rapid learning but is not necessary for memory

Nat Neurosci. 2005 Apr;8(4):411-2. doi: 10.1038/nn1431. Epub 2005 Mar 20.

Abstract

Autophosphorylation of alpha calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (alphaCaMKII) has been proposed to be the key event in memory storage. We tested this hypothesis with autophosphorylation-deficient mutant mice in hippocampus- and amygdala-dependent learning and memory tasks and found that the autophosphorylation of alphaCaMKII was required for rapid learning but was not essential for memory. We conclude that alphaCaMKII autophosphorylation contributes to single-trial learning but is dispensable for memory.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation / methods
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Avoidance Learning / physiology
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase
  • Conditioning, Classical / physiology
  • Cues
  • Electroshock / adverse effects
  • Fear
  • Female
  • Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / physiology
  • Learning / physiology*
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / genetics
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase