Scientists discover brain “glue” that helps memories last a lifetime.
A groundbreaking study has revealed the critical role of the molecule KIBRA in forming long-term memories, acting as a "glue" that helps stabilize and strengthen synapses. Researchers found that KIBRA binds with an enzyme called PKMzeta, which plays a key role in memory retention. This discovery could pave the way for new treatments for memory-related conditions like Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders.
Memory formation has always been a mystery, particularly how memories remain stable despite the constant turnover of molecules in our brain. Neurons store information by strengthening certain synapses, but these synapses are constantly changing, making it hard to understand how long-term memories endure. This study, published in Science Advances, offers a solution by showing how KIBRA works with PKMzeta to maintain the stability of these synapses over time.
The researchers focused on KIBRA, a protein that has been linked to memory performance in humans. They discovered that KIBRA interacts with PKMzeta at synapses involved in memory formation. Once these synapses are activated, KIBRA attaches to them, and PKMzeta binds to the KIBRA tag, ensuring the synapses remain strong. This process helps the memory persist even as the molecules involved are constantly replaced.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this discovery is that breaking the bond between KIBRA and PKMzeta can erase memories. The researchers also explained how their findings clarify why enhancing PKMzeta in the brain can improve weak or faded memories, by acting only on the synapses tagged by KIBRA. This persistent synaptic tagging mechanism provides a new understanding of memory storage and offers insight into neurological and psychiatric disorders.
The study also connects to a hypothesis proposed by Francis Crick in 1984, which likened memory storage to the maintenance of Theseus’s Ship, where new components replace old ones while maintaining the integrity of the structure. This analogy now makes sense, thanks to the discovery of KIBRA and PKMzeta and their role in memory formation.
科學家發現一種可以讓記憶持續一輩子的大腦「膠水」。
一項突破性的研究揭示了 KIBRA 分子在形成長期記憶中的關鍵作用，它充當了穩定和加強突觸的「膠水」。研究人員發現 KIBRA 與一種名為 PKMzeta 的酶結合，這種酶在記憶保持中起著關鍵作用。這項發現可能為阿茲海默症和其他認知障礙等記憶相關疾病的新療法鋪平道路。
記憶的形成一直是個謎，特別是儘管我們大腦中的分子不斷更新，記憶如何保持穩定。神經元透過加強某些突觸來儲存訊息，但這些突觸不斷變化，因此很難理解長期記憶如何持久。這項發表在《科學進展》上的研究透過展示 KIBRA 如何與 PKMzeta 協同工作以維持這些突觸的長期穩定性，提供了解決方案。
研究人員重點研究了 KIBRA，一種與人類記憶力表現相關的蛋白質。他們發現 KIBRA 與 PKMzeta 在參與記憶形成的突觸處相互作用。一旦這些突觸被激活，KIBRA 就會附著在它們上面，而 PKMzeta 會與 KIBRA 標籤結合，確保突觸保持強健。即使所涉及的分子不斷被替換，這個過程也能幫助記憶持續存在。
這項發現最令人著迷的方面之一是，打破 KIBRA 和 PKMzeta 之間的連結可以抹去記憶。研究人員還解釋了他們的研究結果如何闡明為什麼增強大腦中的 PKMzeta 可以改善微弱或褪色的記憶，因為這種作用只針對 KIBRA 標記的突觸。這種持久的突觸標記機制為記憶儲存提供了新的理解，並為神經和精神疾病提供了見解。
這項研究也與弗朗西斯·克里克於 1984 年提出的一個假設相聯繫，該假設將記憶存儲比作忒修斯之船的維護，新部件取代舊部件，同時保持結構的完整性。由於 KIBRA 和 PKMzeta 的發現以及它們在記憶形成中的作用，這個類比現在是有意義的。
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