A robust increase in green fluorescence
of dendra reporter protein
represents local translation at synapse
during long-term synaptic plasticity
induced by 5X5HT
UCLA and McGill University researchers have, for the first time "photographed" a memory in the making.
The study clarifies one of the ways in which connections in the brain between nerve cells, called synapses, can be changed with experience. The way nerve cells change while engaged in learning activities is called "synaptic plasticity" by scientists, and is the foundation for how we learn and remember.
As we learn, memories are stored as changes in the synaptic connections between nerve cells in our brain. Long-lasting changes in synaptic connections are required for long-term memories, and the persistence of these changes requires new gene expression via the synthesis of new proteins.
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This is the first study to use fluorescent imaging to visualize the synaptic plasticity and protein synthesis that occurs as we learn.
Understanding synaptic plasticity is critical to understanding diseases in which learning behaviors are impaired, researchers say. Such diseases include mental retardation, Alzheimer's disease, as well as anxiety, depression and a host of other mood disorders.
The research appears in the June 19 edition of the journal Science.
Sea Slug Aplysia Californica
In order to "see" the synaptic changes in the brain, researchers used sensory and motor neurons from the sea slug Aplysia Californica, which can form connections in culture dishes.
The neurons were stimulated with serotonin, which strengthens the synapses, and allows scientists to detect new protein synthesis--the making of a memory--using a "translational reporter," a fluorescent protein that can easily be tracked.
The studies revealed an exquisite level of control over the specificity of regulation of new protein synthesis, scientists say.
"While this was not really surprising to us given the complexity of information processing in the brain," said Kelsey Martin, associate professor of psychiatry and biological chemistry at UCLA and one of the study's authors, "visualizing the process of protein synthesis at individual synapses, and beginning to discern the elegance of its regulation, leaves us, as biologists, with a wonderful sense of awe."
Kwa mfano, ongezeko kubwa la fluorescence ya kijani ya protini ya Dendro-reporter inawakilisha tafsiri ya ndani katika synapse wakati wa plastiki ya synaptic ya muda mrefu inayosababishwa na 5X5HT. Utafiti huo unafafanua mojawapo ya njia ambazo uhusiano kati ya chembe za neva katika ubongo, unaoitwa synapses, unaweza kubadilishwa na uzoefu. "Utaratibu wa mabadiliko ya seli za neva wakati wa shughuli za kujifunza unaitwa ""plasticity ya synaptic"" na wanasayansi, na ni msingi wa jinsi tunavyojifunza na kukumbuka." Wakati tunapojifunza, kumbukumbu huhifadhiwa kama mabadiliko katika uhusiano wa synaptic kati ya seli za neva katika ubongo wetu. Mabadiliko ya muda mrefu katika uhusiano wa synaptic yanahitajika kwa kumbukumbu za muda mrefu, na kudumu kwa mabadiliko haya inahitaji usemi mpya wa jeni kupitia usanisi wa protini mpya. Reveal Mobi Pro ni kifaa cha kugundua cha Reveal 35C na teknolojia ya SpectralDR, na ni moja ya vifaa vya kisasa vya X-ray. Mobi Pro inaruhusu upatikanaji wa wakati mmoja wa picha za kawaida na nishati mbili na mfiduo mmoja. Wasiliana nasi kwa demo bila gharama. Hii ni utafiti wa kwanza kutumia picha ya fluorescent kugundua synaptic plasticity na synthesis ya protini ambayo hutokea kama sisi kujifunza. Kuelewa synaptic plasticity ni muhimu kwa kuelewa magonjwa ambayo tabia ya kujifunza ni kuharibiwa, watafiti wanasema. Magonjwa kama hayo yanatia ndani kushindwa kufikiri, ugonjwa wa Alzheimer, pamoja na wasiwasi, kushuka moyo na matatizo mengine mengi ya hisia. Utafiti huo umechapishwa katika toleo la Juni 19 la jarida la Sayansi. Ili kuona mabadiliko ya synaptic katika ubongo, watafiti walitumia nyuroni za hisia na za motor kutoka kwa slug ya bahari Aplysia californica, ambayo inaweza kuunda uhusiano katika sahani za utamaduni. Serotonini huimarisha synapses na kuwezesha wanasayansi kugundua synthesis mpya ya protini - kutengeneza kumbukumbu - kwa kutumia "mjumbe wa tafsiri", protini ya fluorescent ambayo inaweza kufuatiliwa kwa urahisi. Utafiti huo ulionyesha kiwango cha juu cha udhibiti juu ya usimamizi wa usanisi mpya wa protini, wanasayansi wanasema. "Kama hii haikuwa ya kushangaza kwetu kwa kuzingatia utata wa usindikaji wa habari katika ubongo, ""Kelsey Martin, profesa msaidizi wa kisaikolojia na kemia ya kibiolojia katika UCLA na mmoja wa waandishi wa utafiti, alisema, ""kuona mchakato wa utengenezaji wa protini katika synapses za mtu binafsi, na kuanza kutambua usahihi wa udhibiti wake, hutuacha sisi, kama wanabiolojia, na hisia ya ajabu ya hofu."