Research uncovers kidney and brain expressed KIBRA protein that helps ensure memory formation and stabilization

Amazing stuff! When will humans have a better memory?

They say love goes through the stomach. Perhaps memory goes through the kidney? 😊

"... A study ... has uncovered a biological explanation for long-term memories. It centers on the discovery of the role of a molecule, KIBRA, that serves as a "glue" to other molecules, thereby solidifying memory formation. ..."

"... In a study using laboratory mice, the scientists focused on the role of KIBRA, or kidney and brain expressed protein, the human genetic variants of which are associated with both good and poor memory. They focused on KIBRA’s interactions with other molecules crucial to memory formation—in this case, protein kinase Mzeta (PKMzeta). This enzyme is the most crucial molecule for strengthening normal mammalian synapses that is known, but it degrades after a few days.

Their experiments reveal that KIBRA is the “missing link” in long-term memories, serving as a “persistent synaptic tag,” or glue, that sticks to strong synapses and to PKMzeta while also avoiding weak synapses. ..."

From the abstract:

"How can short-lived molecules selectively maintain the potentiation of activated synapses to sustain long-term memory? Here, we find kidney and brain expressed adaptor protein (KIBRA), a postsynaptic scaffolding protein genetically linked to human memory performance, complexes with protein kinase Mzeta (PKMζ), anchoring the kinase’s potentiating action to maintain late-phase long-term potentiation (late-LTP) at activated synapses. Two structurally distinct antagonists of KIBRA-PKMζ dimerization disrupt established late-LTP and long-term spatial memory, yet neither measurably affects basal synaptic transmission. Neither antagonist affects PKMζ-independent LTP or memory that are maintained by compensating PKCs in ζ-knockout mice; thus, both agents require PKMζ for their effect. KIBRA-PKMζ complexes maintain 1-month-old memory despite PKMζ turnover. Therefore, it is not PKMζ alone, nor KIBRA alone, but the continual interaction between the two that maintains late-LTP and long-term memory."

Research uncovers 'molecular glue' that helps ensure memory formation and stabilization

How Do Our Memories Last a Lifetime? New Study Offers a Biological Explanation (original news release) Ground-breaking research uncovers “molecular glue” that helps ensure memory formation and stabilization

KIBRA anchoring the action of PKMζ maintains the persistence of memory (open access)

Fig. 1. Strong synaptic stimulation facilitates formation of persistent KIBRA-PKMζ complexes in late-LTP maintenance.

Memories are stored by the interaction of two proteins: a structural protein, KIBRA (green), that acts as a persistent synaptic tag, and a synapse-strengthening enzyme, protein kinase Mzeta (red). Drugs that disrupt the memory-perpetuating interaction (other colors) erase pre-established long-term and remote memories.