Address for Correspondence
Moushumi Sen Sarma,
Centre for Ecological Sciences,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore 560012, India.
Email:  moushumi@ces.iisc.ernet.in

Learning from a Sea Snail: Eric Kandel

Rohini Balakrishnan

In the year 2000, Eric Kandel shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine1 with two other neurobiologists: Arvid Carlsson and Paul Greengard. Whereas Carlsson and Greengard were awarded for their work on dopamine, an important neurotransmitter in the brain, changes in the level of which result in Parkinson’s disease, Eric Kandel was honoured for his extensive and invaluable contribution to our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of learning and memory.  of the term was extended to include a class of structurally unrelated proteins which mediate correct folding of other proteins but do not themselves form a part of the final structure. In a broader sense, they help determine the fate of a protein in the cell. Not only do they ensure correct folding, but also the correct assembly of the units of an oligomeric protein and transport of a protein to its particular subcellular compartment. During heat stress they assume the responsibility of quality control. They bind the heat denatured proteins and catalyze their renaturation.  

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Address for Correspondence
Rohini Balakrishnan,
Centre for Ecological Sciences,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore 560012, India.