Featured Review Cellscience Reviews Vol 5 No 1 ISSN 1742-8130

Emerging role of somato-dendritic K⁺ currents in plasticity

The mechanisms involved in induction of synaptic plasticity are the subject of intense research. Normal conditions such as learning and memory are thought to involve modifications in synaptic plasticity. Furthermore aberrant changes in synaptic strength and connections in various brain regions can play a role in pathological conditions, such as addiction and epilepsy. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the regulation of synaptic communication and neuronal plasticity. Recent evidence suggests that modulation of somatic and dendritic currents can control induction of synaptic plasticity. Electrophysiological and imaging analysis in a small number of neurons throughout the brain whose dendrites are amenable to direct analysis have helped us to begin to understand integration of synaptic information by dendrites. In this discussion we will focus on K⁺ currents that are localized to the dendrites and soma of neurons and possess functional properties that can modulate synaptic information or are in turn modulated by activity-dependent processes. We will also review the recent progress on identification of the specific channels that form these currents and their interacting subunits. Finally we will summarize common themes in localization of these channels and regulation of the channels by post-translational modifications.

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