Signaling Logic of Activity-Triggered Dendritic Protein Synthesis: An mTOR Gate But Not a Feedback Switch
2009

Signaling Logic of Activity-Triggered Dendritic Protein Synthesis

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Pragati Jain, Upinder S. Bhalla, Karl J. Friston

Primary Institution: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India

Hypothesis

How do multiple signals converge to regulate dendritic protein synthesis and prevent runaway feedback?

Conclusion

The study shows that growth factors like BDNF gate activity-triggered protein synthesis via mTOR, preventing runaway activation while allowing responsiveness to multiple inputs.

Supporting Evidence

  • The model shows that BDNF and other signals regulate protein synthesis in dendrites.
  • Positive feedback loops in the model do not lead to bistability.
  • The study suggests that mTOR acts as a gate to control protein synthesis.

Takeaway

This study looks at how brain signals help nerve cells make proteins that are important for memory, and how they prevent making too many proteins at once.

Methodology

The study used computational modeling to analyze the signaling pathways involved in dendritic protein synthesis.

Limitations

The model does not include all possible signaling pathways and relies on existing data for parameterization.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000287

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