Scientists Claim Brain Memory Code Cracked
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120309103701.htm
"ScienceDaily (Mar. 9, 2012) — Despite a century of research, memory encoding in the brain has remained mysterious. Neuronal synaptic connection strengths are involved, but synaptic components are short-lived while memories last lifetimes. This suggests synaptic information is encoded and hard-wired at a deeper, finer-grained molecular scale."
"Microtubules are cylindrical hexagonal lattice polymers of the protein tubulin, comprising 15 percent of total brain protein. Microtubules define neuronal architecture, regulate synapses, and are suggested to process information via interactive bit-like states of tubulin. But any semblance of a common code connecting microtubules to synaptic activity has been missing. Until now."
"Using molecular modeling, Craddock et al reveal a perfect match among spatial dimensions, geometry and electrostatic binding of the insect-like CaMKII, and hexagonal lattices of tubulin proteins in microtubules."
http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002421
"Conclusion
We demonstrate a feasible and robust mechanism for encoding synaptic information into structural and energetic changes of microtubule (MT) lattices by calcium-activated CaMKII phosphorylation. We suggest such encoded information engages in ongoing MT information processes supporting cognition and behavior, possibly by generating scale-free interference patterns via reaction-diffusion or other mechanisms. As MTs and CaMKII are widely distributed in eukaryotic cells, the hexagonal bytes and trytes suggested here may reflect a real-time biomolecular information code akin to the genetic code."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120309103701.htm
"ScienceDaily (Mar. 9, 2012) — Despite a century of research, memory encoding in the brain has remained mysterious. Neuronal synaptic connection strengths are involved, but synaptic components are short-lived while memories last lifetimes. This suggests synaptic information is encoded and hard-wired at a deeper, finer-grained molecular scale."
"Microtubules are cylindrical hexagonal lattice polymers of the protein tubulin, comprising 15 percent of total brain protein. Microtubules define neuronal architecture, regulate synapses, and are suggested to process information via interactive bit-like states of tubulin. But any semblance of a common code connecting microtubules to synaptic activity has been missing. Until now."
"Using molecular modeling, Craddock et al reveal a perfect match among spatial dimensions, geometry and electrostatic binding of the insect-like CaMKII, and hexagonal lattices of tubulin proteins in microtubules."
http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002421
"Conclusion
We demonstrate a feasible and robust mechanism for encoding synaptic information into structural and energetic changes of microtubule (MT) lattices by calcium-activated CaMKII phosphorylation. We suggest such encoded information engages in ongoing MT information processes supporting cognition and behavior, possibly by generating scale-free interference patterns via reaction-diffusion or other mechanisms. As MTs and CaMKII are widely distributed in eukaryotic cells, the hexagonal bytes and trytes suggested here may reflect a real-time biomolecular information code akin to the genetic code."
Vastaukset 2
Vanhimmat
Näyttäisi olevan uusi ilmalaivahypoteesi vanhasta tehtaasta:
Neurologian tutkijat (LeDoux, Cartland,..) tuntevat Hameroffin ja kumppanien mikrotubulushypoteesit vanhastaan ja viittavaat niiden yhteydessa (paitsi kintaalla, myös) siihen, ettei minkäänlaista kokeellista näyttöä ole tubulusten liittymisestä synapsien tomintaan.
Nyt esitetään tuon puutteen korvaajaksi mutkikas ja perusteellinen lisähypoteesi siitä, millaisella molekyylikoodauksella synapsin ja tubuluksen yhteispeli voisi toimia, jos se olisi olemassa. Tieteessä ei kuitenkaan havaintojen puutetta yleensä voi korvata kuvittelua lisäämällä, joten en usko mikrotubulusten tutkimuslinjan suosion vielä tällä liikkeellä kasvavan. Aika saa näyttää.
perfect match ...