Joanna Dzwonek

TL;DR: A novel role for MMP-9 is demonstrated in hippocampal synaptic physiology, plasticity, and memory and integrin function-blocking reagents prevent an M MP-9-mediated potentiation of synaptic signal strength.

TL;DR: The presented work shows miRNAs as key players in the learning and memory process of mammals with an enhancement of memory strength of mutant mice 12 weeks after the Dicer1 gene mutation, before the onset of neurodegenerative process.

TL;DR: Functional studies, especially involving blocking of MMP activities, along with the identification of M MP substrates in the brain strongly suggest that this enzymatic system plays an important physiological role in adult brain neurons, possibly being pivotal for neuronal plasticity.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identified β-dystroglycan as a neuronal activity-driven target for matrix metalloproteinase-9 and showed that β-dysstroglcan is the first substrate to be digested in response to enhanced synaptic activity, which may help to understand the possible role of both proteins in neuronal functions.

TL;DR: The data identify the β-dystroglycan as a first matrix metalloproteinase-9 substrate digested in response to enhanced synaptic activity, which may help to understand the possible role of both proteins in neuronal functions, especially in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory.