Title: Intracellular Calcium Waves as a Signal for Neuronal Synaptic Strengthening: A Potential Mechanism for Late Long Term Potentiation

Speaker: Dr. Brad Peercy (NIH)

Date/Time: Monday, July 30, 2007, 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Location: CSRI Building, Room 279 (Sandia NM)

Brief Abstract: As a result of synaptic stimulation, the initiation of calcium waves in dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal cells has been shown experimentally. It is also known that calcium is a critical second messenger for gene regulation within the nucleus located hundreds of microns from synaptic stimuli. We construct and analyze a model which incorporates an appropriate spatial mechanism of calcium signaling with a biochemical model of kinase induction to account for protein production leading to synaptic strengthening during late long term potentiation.

CSRI POC: Danny Rintoul, (505) 844-9592