Passive avoidance learning induced change in GAP43 phosphorylation in day-old chicks

• Published in: Brain research bulletin Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 11 - 17
• Main Authors: Zhao, Weiqin, Ng, Kim T., Sedman, Garry L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn - physiology; Avoidance Learning - physiology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Chickens; Day-old chicks; Discrimination learning; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GAP-43 Protein; GAP43; Immunoblotting; Intermediate memory; Long-term memory; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Memory consolidation; Miscellaneous; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Phosphorylation; Prosencephalon - metabolism; Protein kinase C; Protein-phosphorylation; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Total kinase activity; Intermediate memory; Memory consolidation; GAP43; Protein kinase C; Day-old chicks; Total kinase activity; Long-term memory; Discrimination learning; Protein-phosphorylation; Learning; Vertebrata; Phosphorylation; Acquisition process; Growth associated protein 43; Animal; Central nervous system; Chicken; Aves; Avoidance; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0361-9230; 1873-2747
• DOI: 10.1016/0361-9230(94)00122-H

Day-old chicks trained on a single trial passive discriminated avoidance task demonstrated a significant increase in in vitro phosphorylation of a 50 kDa protein in P2M fractions of total forebrain. The increase occurred 30 min posttraining, at a time when previous reports suggest that mechanisms for triggering protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory consolidation are activated. These changes in phosphorylation rates were accompanied by a substantial enhancement of total kinase activity. Immunoblotting studies with monoclonal anti-GAP43 antibody indicate that this protein is GAP43. These results contradict previous reports of a decrease in in vitro GAP43 phosphorylation following the same learning paradigm. A number of procedural differences may account for this discrepancy. The results suggest that changes in the phosphorylation state may be associated with mechanisms triggering long-term memory consolidation.