Neuronal Protein Farnesylation Regulates Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Cognitive Function

This study shows that in contrast to the detrimental effects of GGT reduction, systemic haplodeficiency of FT has little to no impact on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognition. However, forebrain neuron-specific FT deletion also leads to reduced synaptic plasticity, memory retention, and hippocampal dendritic spine density. Furthermore, a novel prenylomic analysis identifies distinct pools of prenylated proteins that are affected in the brain of forebrain neuron-specific FT and GGT knockout mice, respectively. Taken together, this study uncovers that physiological levels of FT and GGT in neurons are essential for norma l synaptic/cognitive functions and that the prenylation status of specific signaling molecules regulates neuronal functions.
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - Category: Neurology Source Type: research