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🔬 Biology  ·  Neural Control and Coordination  ·  NEET

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is important in LTP because:

  • A It is reported to inhibit presynaptic glutamate release, thereby reducing the overall strength of synaptic transmission at that particular synapse according to most researchers
  • B It is persistently activated after brief Ca2+ entry (via NMDA) and phosphorylates AMPA receptors, increasing their conductance, and recruits more AMPA to synapse
  • C It is said to enzymatically degrade neurotransmitter molecules that remain within the synaptic cleft after their initial release event in the majority of cases studied
  • D It is reported to physically form the entire structural scaffold of the postsynaptic density largely on its own, mostly unaided as widely reported in standard practice

Correct answer: B. It is persistently activated after brief Ca2+ entry (via NMDA) and phosphorylates AMPA receptors, increasing their conductance, and recruits more AMPA to synapse

Explanation: CaMKII: activated by Ca2+-calmodulin during LTP induction. Autophosphorylation at Thr286 makes it constitutively active. Phosphorylates GluA1 (AMPA) increasing conductance; promotes AMPA insertion at synapse.

Concept context

Brain, spinal cord, neurons, reflex arcs, and sense organs.

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