[BIC-announce] FW: Killam Lecture - TOMORROW - Translational Control Mechanisms in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Memory

[Jennifer Chew, Ms.]

PLEASE DISCARD IF THIS IS A DUPLICATE.  THANK YOU.  JENNIFER 
 

Jennifer Chew

McConnell Brain Imaging Centre

KILLAM LECTURE
 
Speaker:  Eric Klann, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
 
Title:  Translational Control Mechanisms in Hippocampal Synaptic
Plasticity and Memory
 
Date:  May 16, 2006
 
Time:  4:00
 
Place:  de Grandpre Communication Center
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It is my pleasure to invite you to come hear Eric Klann give his Killiam
seminar next week on 
Translational Control Mechanisms in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and
Memory on May 16th at 4:00 
  


Eric Klann, Ph.D.


Dr. Klann's research is focused on the molecular mechanisms involved in
long-term changes in neuronal function and understanding how these
mechanisms might be involved in learning and memory. Hippocampal
long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are two
forms of synpatic plasticity that have been proposed to be cellular
substrates for learning and memory formation in mammals. LTP is a
use-dependent, long-lasting increase in synaptic efficacy, whereas LTD
is a use-dependent decrease in synaptic efficacy. Under the appropriate
conditions, these robust forms of plasticity can be elicited in either
hippocampal slices in vitro or the intact hippocampus in vivo. 


Of particlar interest  is the investigation of the signal transduction
pathways involved in the regulation of protein translation initation
factors during LTP and LTD. These studies include experiments designed
to identify the signaling cascades that link NMDA and metabotropic
glutamate receptor activation to alterations in the phosphorylation of
eIF2alpha, eIF4E, Mnk1, and 4E-BP during various forms of LTP and LTD
and whether alterations in the phosphorylation of these factors occurs
during hippocampus-dependent memory. We also have begun studies with
various knockout and transgenic mice to determine how alterations in the
regulation of protein translation initiation factors impact various
forms of LTP and LTD, as well as hippocampus-dependent learning and
memory. A closely related line of research concerns investigations of
the regulation of protein translation signaling pathways in mouse models
of fragile X mental retardation syndrome.



Wayne Sossin 

Associate Professor, McGill University 

Dept. Neurology and Neurosurgery 

Dept. Anatomy and Cell Biology 

3801 University St. 

Montreal Neurological Institute 

Montreal, Quebec 

Canada H3A-2B4 

Phone: 1-514-398-1486 

Fax: 1-514-398-8106 

e-mail wayne.sossin at mcgill.ca 

web-page http://www.mcgill.ca/mni/cbet/waynes/index.html