Analysis of NMDA receptor mediated synaptic plasticity using gene targeting: Roles of Fyn and FAK non-receptor tyrosine kinases

The NMDA receptor activates a biochemical pathway that regulates long-term changes in synaptic strength. A combination of pharmacological and gene-knockout approaches shows that the postsynaptic signalling cascade initiated by the NMDA receptor involves Fyn tyrosine kinase. We found that Fyn phosphorylates the NMDA receptor and proteins associated with the receptor and proteins associated with the receptor. The interaction of the NMDA receptor with postsynaptic signalling proteins is likely to initiate changes in synaptic strength that contribute to learning and memory.