A molecular insight into the dissociable regulation of associative learning and motivation by the synaptic protein neuroligin-1.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In a changing environment, a challenge for the brain is to flexibly guide adaptive behavior towards survival. Complex behavior and the underlying neural computations emerge from the structural components of the brain across many levels: circuits, cells, and ultimately the signaling complex of proteins at synapses. In line with this logic, dynamic modification of synaptic strength or synaptic plasticity is widely considered the cellular level implementation for adaptive behavior such as learning and memory. Predominantly expressed at excitatory synapses, the postsynaptic cell-adhesion molecule neuroligin-1 (Nlgn1) forms trans-synaptic complexes with presynaptic neurexins. Extensive evidence supports that Nlgn1 is essential for NMDA receptor transmission and long-term pote

SUBMITTER: Luo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7646379 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature