1. Neuroscience

Synaptic memory requires CaMKII

  1. Wucheng Tao  Is a corresponding author
  2. Joel Lee
  3. Xiumin Chen
  4. Javier Díaz-Alonso
  5. Jing Zhou
  6. Samuel Pleasure, M.D., Ph.D.
  7. Roger A Nicoll  Is a corresponding author
  1. Fujian Medical University, China
  2. University of California, San Francisco, United States
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.60360
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  1. Wucheng Tao
  2. Joel Lee
  3. Xiumin Chen
  4. Javier Díaz-Alonso
  5. Jing Zhou
  6. Samuel Pleasure, M.D., Ph.D.
  7. Roger A Nicoll
(2021)
Synaptic memory requires CaMKII
eLife 10:e60360.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.60360
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Abstract

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is arguably the most compelling cellular model for learning and memory. While the mechanisms underlying the induction of LTP ('learning') are well understood, the maintenance of LTP ('memory') has remained contentious over the last 20 years. Here, we find that CaMKII contributes to synaptic transmission and is required LTP maintenance. Acute inhibition of CaMKII erases LTP and transient inhibition of CaMKII enhances subsequent LTP. These findings strongly support the role of CaMKII as a molecular storage devise.

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in the manuscript and supporting files.

Article and author information

Author details

  1. Wucheng Tao

    Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
    For correspondence
    taowucheng@fjmu.edu.cn
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
    ORCID icon "This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0003-2577-8161

  2. Joel Lee

    Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

  3. Xiumin Chen

    Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

  4. Javier Díaz-Alonso

    Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
    ORCID icon "This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-4980-7441

  5. Jing Zhou

    Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
    ORCID icon "This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0003-2809-7097

  6. Samuel Pleasure, M.D., Ph.D.

    Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
    ORCID icon "This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0001-8599-1613

  7. Roger A Nicoll

    Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
    For correspondence
    roger.nicoll@ucsf.edu
    Competing interests
    The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
    ORCID icon "This ORCID iD identifies the author of this article:" 0000-0002-6977-4632

Funding

No external funding was received for this work.

Reviewing Editor

  1. Nils Brose, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Germany

Ethics

Animal experimentation: All the experimental procedures on animals were approved by the UCSF Animal Care and Use Committee, BUA # BU002466-04C

Version history

  1. Received: June 24, 2020
  2. Accepted: December 14, 2021
  3. Accepted Manuscript published: December 15, 2021 (version 1)
  4. Version of Record published: January 28, 2022 (version 2)

Copyright

© 2021, Tao et al.

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.

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  1. Wucheng Tao
  2. Joel Lee
  3. Xiumin Chen
  4. Javier Díaz-Alonso
  5. Jing Zhou
  6. Samuel Pleasure, M.D., Ph.D.
  7. Roger A Nicoll
(2021)
Synaptic memory requires CaMKII
eLife 10:e60360.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.60360

Share this article

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.60360

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