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Protein kinase C activation induces conductance changes in Hermissenda photoreceptors like those seen in associative learning

Nature volume 319, pages 220–223 (1986)Cite this article

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 18 December 1986

Abstract

Phosphorylation of ion channels has been suggested as one molecular mechanism responsible for learning-produced long-term changes in neuronal excitability1. Persistent training-produced changes in two distinct K+ currents (IA (ref. 2), IK-Ca (refs 3,4)) and a voltage-dependent calcium current (ICa; refs 3,4) have previously been shown to occur in type B photoreceptors of Hermissenda, as a result of associative learning. But the identity of the phosphorylation pathway(s) responsible for these changes has not as yet been determined. Injections of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase5 reduce a K+ current (IK) in B cells which is different from those changed by training, but fails to reduce IA and IK-Ca· Phosphorylase b kinase (an exogenous calcium/calmodulin-depen-dent kinase) reduces IA6, but whether IK.Ca and ICa are changed in the manner of associative training is not yet known. Another protein kinase present in high concentrations in both mammalian brain and molluscan nervous systems is protein kinase C7,8, which is both calcium- and phospholipid-sensitive9,10. We now present evidence that activation of protein kinase C by the tumour promoter phorbol ester (PDB) and intracellular injection of the enzyme induce conductance changes similar to those caused by associative training in Hermissenda B cells (that is a reduction of IA and IK-Ca, and enhancement of ICa). These results represent the first direct demonstration that protein kinase C affects membrane K+ ion conductance mechanisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, USA

    J. Farley

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA

    S. Auerbach

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  1. J. Farley
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  2. S. Auerbach
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Farley, J., Auerbach, S. Protein kinase C activation induces conductance changes in Hermissenda photoreceptors like those seen in associative learning. Nature 319, 220–223 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/319220a0

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