Neuroscience
-
Review
Protein trafficking from synapse to nucleus in control of activity-dependent gene expression.
Long-lasting changes in neuronal excitability require activity-dependent gene expression and therefore the transduction of synaptic signals to the nucleus. Synaptic activity is rapidly relayed to the nucleus by membrane depolarization and the propagation of Ca(2+)-waves. ⋯ Potential mechanisms for active retrograde transport and nuclear targets for these proteins have been identified and recent reports assigned first functions to this type of long-distance signaling. In this review we will discuss how the dissociation of synapto-nuclear protein messenger from synaptic and extrasynaptic sites, their transport, nuclear import and the subsequent genomic response relate to the prevailing concept behind this signaling mechanism, the encoding of signals at their site of origin and their decoding in the nucleus.
-
It has been half a century since brain volume enlargement was first reported in animals reared in an enriched environment (EE). As EE animals show improved memory task performance, exposure to EE has been a useful model system for studying the effects of experience on brain plasticity. ⋯ The review is organized in three large domains of changes: anatomical, electrophysiological, and molecular changes. Finally, we discuss open issues and future outlook toward better understanding of EE-induced neural changes.