Rookie snail protein LAPS veteran C/EBP: net transcriptional proceeds for long-term facilitation.
Long-term changes in synaptic plasticity require new protein synthesis. This preview discusses data from Kim et al. (this issues of Neuron) that demonstrate the requirement of a novel, nucleolar protein, LLP (LAPS18-like protein), for the formation of long-term facilitation in Aplysia. LLP binds to and transcriptionally activates C/EBP, thereby promoting the formation of long-term facilitation and behavioral sensitization.