MECHANISMS FOR THE GENERATION OF SYNAPSE SPECIFICITY IN LONG-TERM-MEMORY - THE IMPLICATIONS OF A REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSCRIPTION

Since long-term memory (LTM) depends on transcription, signals require d for LTM must emanate from the cell body, In some cases, signals from the cell body are not only required, but are also sufficient for LTM. However, it is difficult to reconcile this finding with the need to m odify synapses independently. To retain synapse specificity during LTM , a form of memory is required that is independent of transcription, a nd that produces a synaptic 'mark' which interacts with molecules synt hesized in the cell body. To reconcile the sufficiency of transcriptio nal signals for LTM with the need for synapse specificity, I propose t hat not all LTM is synapse-specific; activation of transcription presy naptically results in cell-wide LTM, whereas postsynaptic transcriptio nal activation leads to synapse-specific LTM.