CaMKIIα Clustering May Shape Synaptic Signaling

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University, Kyoto University, SOKENDAI, and the National Institute for Physiological Sciences have revealed how CaMKIIα (※1)-a key brain protein involved in learning and memory-organizes itself into chain-like structures. Their study, published in Science Advances, shows how activation causes these protein structures to grow and how a mutation associated with neurodevelopmental disorders changes their organization, findings that could deepen our understanding of memory formation and neurological disease.As new memories form, the connections between brain cells can become stronger. A protein called CaMKIIα plays an important part in this process and is found in especially large amounts at the points where brain cells communicate.