Kv BETA 1.1-DEFICIENT MICE WITH IMPAIRED LEARNING

摘要

This invention pertains to the discovery that a mutation disabling the Kvβ1.1 subunit of a A-type K+ channel decreases the slow afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) of hippocampal CA1 neurons and improves learning and memory in hippocampus-dependent tasks: Importantly, young mutants do not show this improvement indicating that the inihibition of Kvβ1.1 mediates the effects of age-related loss of learning ability and memory. Thus, in one embodiment this invention provides assays for modulators of Kvβ1.1.