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Nature Chemical Biology 2, 67–68 (1 February 2006) | doi:10.1038/nchembio0206-67

Sweet insights into learning and memory

Gerald W Hart

Neuronal plasticity, which is key to learning and memory, is the remarkable ability of neurons or neuronal networks to dynamically alter their biochemical, physiological or morphological properties in response to intrinsic or extrinsic input. Over the past decade, several groups have used glycan-specific antibodies and specific fucosylation inhibitors, in combination with behavioral studies in animals, to suggest that the increased modification of brain proteins by sugars terminating in Fucα(1-2)Gal residues correlates with improved learning and memory and with increased synapse formation.