Achieving synaptic stability: An investigation of processes that maintain glutamate receptor clusters at synapses

实现突触稳定性：对突触维持谷氨酸受体簇的过程的研究

基本信息

批准号：
BB/J018724/1
负责人：
N Emptage
金额：
$ 44.06万
依托单位：
University of Oxford
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2013
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2013 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FJ018724%2F1
关键词：
Achieving synaptic stability investigation processes

项目摘要

Memories, it is said can last a lifetime and yet the very molecules that form the substrate for memory are proteins that are highly labile and have a lifespan far shorter than the memory they represent. While one might imagine that if a molecule became damaged and was degraded by the cell, the solution would simply be to replace it with another molecule just like it, this is far from straight forward as the storage of a memory is thought to require these molecules to be arranged in precise patterns, with certain numbers of molecules at each point in the pattern. Thus, it is necessary to return the degraded molecule from whence it came. It would seem that what is needed is a memory for memory! As this is rather absurd then an alternative needs be sought. Ideally, a mechanism is required that self stabilizes once the memory is established. Importantly, any mechanism must have the capacity to show some adaptability, as memories are not always robust and can be augmented but can also wain. Recently, we have been exploring some theoretical ideas about the types of mechanism that might enable neurons to generate memories that become stable. Our ideas incorporate some less commonly considered features of biological processes and accept that the biological building blocks degrade and need to be replaced on a time scale far more rapid than the loss of memory. In our current work we are looking to test our theoretical ideas with experiments designed to determine whether stability arises from the behaviour of populations of molecules not the activity of any single element.

据说记忆可以持续一生，但构成记忆底物的分子本身就是高度不稳定的蛋白质，其寿命远远短于它们所代表的记忆。虽然人们可能会想象，如果一个分子被损坏并被细胞降解，解决方案就是用另一种类似的分子替换它，但这远非直截了当，因为人们认为记忆的存储需要这些分子以精确的图案排列，图案中的每个点都有一定数量的分子。因此，有必要将降解的分子从其来源处返回。看来需要的是为了记忆而记忆！由于这是相当荒谬的，因此需要寻求替代方案。理想情况下，需要一种一旦建立记忆就能够自我稳定的机制。重要的是，任何机制都必须具有表现出一定适应性的能力，因为记忆并不总是强大的，可以增强，但也可能减弱。最近，我们一直在探索一些关于可能使神经元产生稳定记忆的机制类型的理论想法。我们的想法结合了一些不太常见的生物过程特征，并承认生物构件会降解，需要在比记忆丧失更快的时间尺度上进行更换。在我们目前的工作中，我们希望通过实验来检验我们的理论想法，这些实验旨在确定稳定性是否源于分子群体的行为，而不是任何单个元素的活动。