Researchers from the University of Iowa uncovered a new mechanism associated with long-term memory storage that may be linked to cognitive deficits seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
As mentioned in the journal Science Advances, a novel protein folding mechanism situated in the endoplasmic reticulum fundamental to long-term memorical storage was identified.
“Fundamental studies have shown that a set of transcriptional regulatory proteins of the nuclear receptor 4a (Nr4a) family serve as molecular switches for long-term memory,” according to the study’s authors.
“Here, we show that Nr4a proteins regulate the transcription of genes encoding chaperones that localize to the endoplasmic reticulum.”
From the study: “Our findings establish a unique molecular concept underlying long-term memory and provide insights into the mechanistic basis of cognitive deficits in dementia.”
