The brain-derived neurotropt synthesis of Arc in synaptone

Protein synthesis in neurons is essential for the consolidation of memory and for the stabilization of activity-dependent forms of Ai synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP). Activity- re; dependent translation of dendritically localized mRNAs has been thl proposed to be a critical source of new proteins necessary for ch synaptic change. mRNA for the activity-regulated cytoskeletal inl protein, Arc, is transcribed during LTP and learning, and disruption ra] of its translation gives rise to deficits in both. We have found that inl selective translation of Arc in a synaptoneurosomal preparation is mn induced by the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a neurotrophin of that is released during high-frequency stimulation patterns used to of elicit LTP. This effect involves signaling through the TrkB receptor ex and is blocked by the N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate recep- mn tor antagonist, MK801. The results suggest there is a synergy bl( between neurotrophic and ionotropic mechanisms that may influ- fec ence the specificity and duration of changes in synaptic efficacy at glutamatergic synapses. tra syi