Mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated kinase signalling and memory stabilization: a review

• Published in: Genes, brain and behavior Vol. 5; no. s2; pp. 61 - 72
• Main Authors: Davis, Sabrina, Laroche, Serge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK; Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2006; Wiley
• Subjects: Animals; Cognitive Sciences; Consolidation; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases - metabolism; immediate early genes; kinases; Life Sciences; Memory; Memory - physiology; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Neurobiology; Neuronal Plasticity; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neurons and Cognition; Phosphorylation; Psychology and behavior; reconsolidation; Second Messenger Systems; Second Messenger Systems - physiology; Signal Transduction; Signal Transduction - physiology; Transcriptional Activation; Transcriptional Activation - physiology
• ISSN: 1601-1848; 1601-183X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183X.2006.00230.x

The function of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in neurons has been the subject of considerable scrunity of late, and recent studies have given new insights into how this signalling cascade can regulate gene expression following cell‐surface receptor activation. At the same time, a wealth of experimental data has demonstrated that the MAPK cascade is critically involved in the mechanisms underlying the type of enduring modification of neural networks required for the stability of memories, emphasizing the high level of interest in this signalling molecule. In this review, we briefly outline the main molecular events and mechanisms of the regulation of the MAPK cascade leading to transcriptional activation and summarize recent advances in our understanding of the functional role of this molecular signalling cascade in regulating brain plasticity, memory consolidation and memory reconsolidation.