Neuroscience: Strength in numbers

Abstract

A process called long-term potentiation mediates information storage — learning and memory — at the level of neurons. An in vitro study turns the molecular understanding of this process on its head. But researchers’ opinions differ as to what can be inferred from these data.

Figure 1. AMPA receptors at the synapse

At the level of neurons, long-term potentiation (LTP) is mediated by AMPA receptors, which are transported from intracellular compartments and elsewhere in the cell membrane to the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron. Surprisingly, Granger et al. report that the cytoplasmic tail of the GluA1 subunit of AMPA receptors is not required for this trafficking and thus for LTP. Instead, they propose that any type of glutamate receptor can support LTP, as long as enough of them reach the membrane.