The NMDA-receptor-induced nuclear import of Jacob: A signaling-pathway for the regulation of learning-induced gene expression?

Information storage in neuronal networks essentially requires activity-dependent gene expression that impacts on the structure and flexibility of synaptic contacts. In project B8 we are dealing with the question how dopamine and BDNF modlated synaptic NMDAR signals are conveyed to the nucleus and how the genomic response to this signaling feeds back to synaptic structure and function. The Jacob pathway is a signaling pathway that couples NMDA-receptor activity to CREB-mediated gene expression. In the proposed project we will test whether nuclear import of Jacob is involved in global and input specific synaptic scaling processes that are relevant for hippocampus-dependent learning and memory.

B08 Publications