The NMDA-receptor activated nuclear import of Jacob: A signaling pathway regulating learning-induced gene expression? (B08)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2008 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 36555331

Information storage in neuronal networks essentially requires activity-dependent gene expression that impacts on the structure and flexibility of synaptic contacts. In this project 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.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 779: Neurobiology of Motivated Behaviour
• Applicant Institution: Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
• Project Heads: Anna Karpova, Ph.D.; Dr. Michael R. Kreutz