Changes in phosphorylation of Ca 2+ /calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in processing of short‐term and long‐term memories after passive avoidance learning

Characteristic autophosphorylation of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and its consequences have made this kinase an interesting target in studying the molecular pathway for important neuronal functions including learning and memory formation. In this article, we use immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting methods to detect changes in phosphorylation of CaMKII during memory formation in 1‐day‐old chicks trained in a single trial passive avoidance task. A 60‐kDa protein has been immunoprecipitated from the chick brain with an anti‐rabbit CaMKII antibody. This protein shows strong and specific immunoactivities with antibodies against the calmodulin binding site of CaMKII, and the N and C terminals of β‐CaMKII. Commercially available anti‐phosphoserine and anti‐phosphothreonine antibodies are shown to sensitively detect phosphorylation of purified CaMKII. The basal phosphorylation of CaMKII from the intermediate medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV) and lobus parolfactorius (LPO) regions of the chick brain is shown to be largely right hemisphere‐lateralized. When chicks are subjected to a passive avoidance training experience, a specific increase in CaMKII phosphorylation is induced in the IMHV and LPO of the left hemisphere from those chicks whose memory for the training experience is successfully retrieved. While this specific increase in CaMKII phosphorylation is seen in both the left IMHV and left LPO in short‐term memory, it is detectable only in the left LPO associated with long‐term memory retrieval. The present results provide evidence that in vivo changes in phosphorylation of CaMKII are associated specifically with processing of distinct memory stages, which take place in specific brain regions. J. Neurosci. Res. 55:557–568, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.