A team led by UK scientists has identifieda key brain protein in learning and memory. The finding, published in the magazineProceedings of the National Academy os Sciences(PNAS), has great relevance for the study of Alzheimer’s disease.
What is the exact mechanism by which our brain learns and retains long-term memories? It is the question that neuroscientists from the five continents have been trying to answer for years. From what we know so far, lMemories are stored in a complex network of neurons, which must activate a mechanism that allows them to form newproteins that strengthen the connections between them(synapse). The proteins of the so-called “G Protein Coupled Receptors” (GPCR), and specifically of the “muscarinic acetylcholine receptor family”, seem to play a very important role in this process.
In the new research, the scientists focused on thereceptor muscarínico M3, a very widespread protein in the central nervous system. Working with mice that underwent fear conditioning treatment, the scientists found that learning and memory were highly dependent on M3 receptors and their phosphorylation status.
“This protein is presentin the area of the brain where memories are stored“says study co-author Professor Andrew Tobin from the University of Leicester.” We have found that, for the retention of new memories, the muscarinic M3 receptor must be activated. “To be activated, this protein undergoes a very specific change during formation of a memory And if this change does not occur, the memories are not stored.
The results will be of great help to scientists investigating the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive form of dementia that destroys brain cells, causing severe memory loss and thinking and behavior problems. “As demonstrated in the article, drugs that were designed with the protein identified in our study as a target could be beneficial fortreat Alzheimer’s disease“hopes Tobin.
