CREB (top) is a transcription factor capable of binding DNA (bottom) and regulating gene expression.

CREB (cAMP response element-binding) proteins are transcription factors which bind to certain sequences called cAMP response elements in DNA and thereby increase or decrease the transcription of certain genes. CREB proteins are active in many animals, including humans. The typical (somewhat simplified) sequence of events is as follows: a signal arrives at the cell surface, activates the corresponding receptor, which leads to the production of a second messenger such as cAMP or Ca²⁺, which in turn activates a protein kinase. This protein kinase moves to the cell nucleus, where it activates a CREB protein. The activated CREB molecule then binds to a CRE element, and is then bound to by a CBP (CREB binding protein) which coactivates it, allowing it to switch certain genes on or off. The DNA binding of CREB is mediated via its basic Leucine zipper domain (bZIP domain) as depicted on the picture. Image File history File links Chains A and C of CREB-1 binding DNA. Drawn by User:Diberri based upon 1DH3. ... Image File history File links Chains A and C of CREB-1 binding DNA. Drawn by User:Diberri based upon 1DH3. ... In molecular biology, a transcription factor is a protein that binds DNA at a specific promoter or enhancer region or site, where it regulates transcription. ... The general structure of a section of DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid — usually in the form of a double helix — that contains the genetic instructions or genocode monitoring the biological development of all cellular forms of life, and many viruses. ... Gene expression, also called protein expression or often simply expression is the process by which a genes DNA sequence is converted into the structures and functions of a cell. ... Structure of cAMP cAMP represented in three ways, the left with sticks-representation, the middle with structure formula, and the right with space filled representation. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... In molecular biology, a transcription factor is a protein that binds DNA at a specific promoter or enhancer region or site, where it regulates transcription. ... The general structure of a section of DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid — usually in the form of a double helix — that contains the genetic instructions or genocode monitoring the biological development of all cellular forms of life, and many viruses. ... Transcription is the process through which a DNA sequence is enzymatically copied by an RNA polymerase to produce a complementary RNA. Or, in other words, the transfer of genetic information from DNA into RNA. In the case of protein-encoding DNA, transcription is the beginning of the process that ultimately... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ... In biology, second messengers are low-weight diffusible molecules that are used in signal transduction to relay signals within a cell. ... General Name, Symbol, Number calcium, Ca, 20 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 40. ... A protein kinase is an enzyme that modifies other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups to them (phosphorylation). ... In cell biology, the nucleus (from Latin nucleus or nuculeus, kernel) is found in all eukaryotic cells and contains the nuclear genes which form most of the cells genetic material. ... Basic Leucine zipper domain (bZIP domain) CREB (top) is a transcription factor capable of binding DNAvia the bZIP domain (bottom) and regulating gene expression. ...

CREB proteins in neurons are involved in the formation of long-term memories; this has been shown in the marine snail Aplysia, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and in rats. They are necessary for the late stage of long term potentiation. There are activator and repressor forms of CREB. Fruit flies genetically engineered to overexpress the activator form have been shown to learn significantly faster than wild-type flies: they readily form long-term memories after only a single training, while wild-type flies require several spaced repetitions. Drawing by Santiago Ramón y Cajal of cells in the pigeon cerebellum. ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830 Drosophila melanogaster (from the Greek for black-bellied dew-lover) is a dipteran (two-winged) insect, and is the species of fruit fly that is most commonly used in genetic experiments; it is among the most important model organisms. ... Binomial name Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769) The Brown Rat or Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus) is one of the most well-known and common rats, and also one of the largest. ... In neuroscience, long-term potentiation (LTP) is the strengthening (or potentiation) of the connection between two nerve cells which lasts for an extended period of time (minutes to hours in vitro and hours to days and months in vivo). ...

In humans, abnormalities of the CREB protein gene CBP is associated with Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome. Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome (also known as Broad Thumb-Hallux syndrome) is a genetic disorder. ...

References

"Opening Skinner's Box" by Laren Slater Burrhus Frederic Skinner Burrhus Frederic Skinner (March 20, 1904 – August 18, 1990) was an American psychologist and author. ...

Barco, A., Bailey, C. H., & Kandel, E. R. (2006). Common molecular mechanisms in explicit and implicit memory. Journal of Neurochemistry, 97, 1520-1533.

Yin, J. C., Del Veccio, M., Zhou, H., & Tully, T. (1995). CREB as a memory modulator: induced expression of a dCREB2 activator isoform enhances long-term memory in Drosophila. Cell, 81, 107-115.

Yin, J. C., Wallach, J. S., Del Veccio, M., Wilder, E. L., Zhou, H., Quinn, W. G., et al. (1994). Induction of a dominant negative CREB transgene specifically blocks long-term memory in Drosophila. Cell, 79, 49-58.