The process by which memories are formed in the hippocampus region of the brain is complex. It relies on a precise choreography of interactions between neurons, neurotransmitters, receptors and enzymes.
A new mouse study led by researchers at the UC Davis School of Medicine has identified an intricate molecular process involving gene expression in the neurons that appears to play a critical role in memory consolidation. The research was published in Science Signaling.
“This is an exciting mechanism. It shows that an enzyme like phosphodiesterase is key in controlling gene expression necessary for memory consolidation,” said Yang K. Xiang, a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and senior author of the paper.
Xiang’s research focuses on understanding how dysregulation or impairment of cellular and molecular mechanisms in the heart and brain can lead to diseases like heart…
