CREB and smart drugs (original) (raw)

CREB and the discovery of cognitive enhancers
by
Scott R, Bourtchuladze R,
Gossweiler S, Dubnau J, Tully T.
Helen Therapeutics, Inc.,
Farmingdale NY 11735, USA.
J Mol Neurosci. 2002 Aug-Oct;19(1-2):171-7

ABSTRACT

In the past few years, a series of molecular-genetic, biochemical, cellular and behavioral studies in fruit flies, sea slugs and mice have confirmed a long-standing notion that long-term memory formation depends on the synthesis of new proteins. Experiments focused on the cAMP-responsive transcription factor, CREB, have established that neural activity-induced regulation of gene transcription promotes a synaptic growth process that strengthens the connections among active neurons. This process constitutes a physical basis for the engram--and CREB is a "molecular switch" to produce the engram. Helicon Therapeutics has been formed to identify drug compounds that enhance memory formation via augmentation of CREB biochemistry. Candidate compounds have been identified from a high throughput cell-based screen and are being evaluated in animal models of memory formation. A gene discovery program also seeks to identify new genes, which function downstream of CREB during memory formation, as a source for new drug discoveries in the future. Together, these drug and gene discovery efforts promise new class of pharmaceutical therapies for the treatment of various forms of cognitive dysfunction.

CREB New brain cells Fruit-fly memories CREBs and memory The memory switch? Dumb-drug euphoria Calcineurin-inhibition Growing new brain cells The genetics of memory Photographic memory in flies CREB and long-term memory Memory promoters and suppressors The CREB pathway and memory enhancers

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