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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
Balancing LTP and LTD
DOI:
10.1038/nrn2123 Two major forms of synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD)are cellular processes involved in learning and memory. Althoughthey produce opposite effects on synaptic excitability, both LTPand LTD can occur at the same synapse in response to different patterns of activation of NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) receptors. This raises the question of whether specific mechanisms exist to prevent unwanted interference between the two processes. Collingridge and colleagues have now shown thatLTP temporarily inhibits subsequent LTD induction at the same synapse and have uncovered a key role for glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) in regulating the synaptic response downstream of NMDA receptor activation.
GSK3 has been implicatedin neurological disorders such as Alzheimers disease and mood disorders; however its roles in normal CNS functions have...