To elucidate molecular mechanisms in learning and memory, the expression of mRNAs in brains of rabbits undergoing eyeblink conditioning was analyzed. Infusion of the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D (ActD) into the cerebellar nuclei reversibly blocked learning but not performance of the CR. Differential display PCR (DD-PCR) analysis of cerebellar RNAs from trained and pseudo-trained rabbits identified a 207-bp band that was induced with learning. The fragment was used to isolate a cDNA from a lambda gt11 rabbit brain library containing a 1698-bp open-reading frame. The genomic sequence also has been obtained and is reported. The deduced amino acid sequence contains the KKIAMRE motif, which is conserved among cdc2-related kinases. These results suggest that there is a new category of cdc2-related kinases in the brain whose function may be important in learning and memory.
cDNA, GENOMIC, AND PREDICTED PROTEIN SEQUENCES OF LEARNING-INDUCED KINASES