Keeping CaMKII At The Synapse

... Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent kinase (CaMKII) and the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B are established contributors to synaptic plasticity. This week, Bayer et al. show that the activity- and NMDA-receptor-dependent translocation of CaMKII to the synapse has two phases. Using site-directed mutagenesis, the authors document a two-phase binding scheme whereby transient activity elicited Ca2+/ CaM-dependent binding of NR2B to CaMKII at its substrate-binding site ("S-site"), whereas prolonged activity led to persistent binding at the T286-binding site ("T-site")... click link for more info. ...