pubmed:abstractText |
Calcium influx into postsynaptic dendritic spines can, depending on circumstances, activate three forms of synaptic plasticity: long-term potentiation (LTP), short-term potentiation (STP) and long-term depression (LTD). The increased postsynaptic calcium concentrations that trigger all three forms of plasticity should activate the alpha isoform of calcium-calmodulin kinase type II (alpha CaMKII), which is present at high levels just below the postsynaptic membrane. Earlier experiments have implicated alpha CaMKII in the regulation or induction of LTP, but no information is available on the possible role of this enzyme in the two other forms of synaptic plasticity, STP and LTD.
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