{"id":4283,"date":"2025-05-31T10:23:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T10:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/?p=4283"},"modified":"2025-06-10T04:13:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T04:13:45","slug":"tiny-protein-fragment-crucial-for-memory-formation-discovered-in-neurons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/?p=4283","title":{"rendered":"Tiny Protein Fragment Crucial for Memory Formation Discovered in Neurons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have identified a nine-amino-acid microexon in the DAAM1 protein that is exclusive to neurons and vital for memory function. Published in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-025-59430-w\"><em>Nature Communications<\/em><\/a>\u00a0on 6 May 2025, the study reveals that this tiny fragment plays a key role in neuronal development and memory retention in mice, with potential implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The research team discovered that the microexon, when included in the DAAM1 protein, is critical for the formation of &#8220;learning spines&#8221;\u2014protrusions essential for synaptic connections and memory. Mice lacking this fragment had 50% fewer spines and exhibited a 40% reduction in memory performance during standard tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Patryk Poli\u0144ski, lead author of the study, noted that while the neurons appeared normal, their ability to communicate was severely impaired. The team partially restored memory function in mice by correcting an overactive signaling pathway caused by the microexon&#8217;s absence. However, Dr. Mara Dierssen emphasized that this finding is a proof of principle, not yet a therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The microexon&#8217;s evolutionary conservation highlights its importance. Found in species as distant as sharks and humans, it has remained unchanged for nearly half a billion years. Dr. Manuel Irimia described it as a &#8220;critical cog&#8221; in memory formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNeurons can\u2019t build bridges as effectively, and the messengers can&#8217;t do their job,\u201d said Dr. Poli\u0144ski. Dr. Irimia added, \u201cThis microexon is a critical cog that helps neurons wire memories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study underscores the microexon&#8217;s role in memory and suggests that similar splicing errors could contribute to neurodevelopmental conditions like autism. The team is now investigating whether rare variants affecting this microexon are linked to learning disorders in humans, while exploring other microexons that may influence cognition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have identified a nine-amino-acid microexon in the DAAM1 protein that is exclusive to neurons and vital for memory function. Published in\u00a0Nature Communications\u00a0on 6 May 2025, the study reveals that this tiny fragment plays a key role in neuronal development and memory retention in mice, with potential implications [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1093],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-neuroscience"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4283"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4364,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4283\/revisions\/4364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scientificworld.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}