Regulation and Neural Function of Atypical PKC

Long-term memories are believed to be due to persistent changes in synaptic strength. Although the molecular mechanisms initiating these changes have been extensively studied, the mechanisms maintaining these changes, which may contribute to storing long-term memory, have been unknown. Recently, however, a candidate molecular mechanism has emerged for maintaining a persistent form of synaptic enhancement triggered by strong afferent stimulation of synapses, known as long-term potentiation (LTP). The key molecule in this maintenance mechanism is a brain-specific, protein kinase C isoform, PKM?. Unlike other PKC isoforms that require second messengers for activation, PKM? consists of an independent PKC catalytic domain that is constitutively active. PKM? is produced from a PKM? mRNA, and the amount of the kinase increases with LTP induction. The persistent activity of the kinase is then both necessary and sufficient for maintaining the synaptic enhancement. Postsynaptic perfusion of PKM? enhances synaptic transmission, and inhibition of PKM? activity reverses previously established LTP. Recently, PKM? inhibition has been found to disrupt the storage of previously established long-term memories. These data indicate that PKM? is a candidate molecule uniquely important for information storage at synapses and during behavior. Thus the overall goal of this application is to elucidate in mechanistic detail the function of PKM? in persistent synaptic enhancement and memory storage. Our 3 Specific Aims are: 1) To characterize the mechanisms by which PKM? enhances synaptic strength. We found that PKM? potentiates synaptic strength by increasing the number of postsynaptic AMPA receptors (AMPARs) through interactions between the AMPAR GluR2 subunit and the trafficking protein NSF. We will examine whether this potentiation is through increased exocytosis and/or decreased endocytosis of postsynaptic AMPARs and the function of this altered trafficking in memory maintained by PKM?. 2) To determine whether preexisting and newly translated PKM? mediate distinct phases of potentiation during LTP. Preliminary evidence indicates that antisense oligodeoxynucleotides blocking new PKM? synthesis prevents the persistence of a phase of LTP. We will determine whether this new synthesis occurs at dendritic sites. 3) To determine the role of preexisting, newly translated, and new gene transcription of PKM? in distinct phase of memory. PKM? maintains memory up to several months after training. We will employ both antisense to block translation of PKM? mRNA and conditional genetic deletion of PKM? to examine the function of distinct mechanisms of expression of PKM? in different phases of memory. These 3 aims will provide fundamental new information on a potential molecular mechanism for maintaining synaptic and behavioral information storage, which may be relevant to both normal memory and its disorders.