CREB-binding protein (Lymnaea stagnalis) (LymCBP)

CREB-binding protein (Lymnaea stagnalis), commonly known as LymCBP, is a transcriptional co-activator and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) that serves as a master regulator of gene expression during long-term memory (LTM) formation in the great pond snail (UniProt: Q868Z9). It functions by acetylating lysine residues on the N-terminal tails of histones H3 and H4, a process that reduces the electrostatic attraction between histones and DNA, thereby promoting an open chromatin configuration accessible to the transcription machinery (Hatakeyama et al., 2013, PubMed: 23838071). LymCBP is recruited to specific promoters by the phosphorylated form of the transcription factor CREB, where it acts as a scaffold to integrate various signaling pathways (Wagatsuma et al., 2006, PubMed: 16445444). In experimental neurobiology, LymCBP is a critical target for investigating the epigenetic mechanisms of cognitive function; pharmacological inhibition of its HAT activity using compounds like C646 or garcinol has been shown to specifically block the consolidation of LTM without affecting short-term memory (Fulton et al., 2008, PubMed: 18463998). Due to its high degree of conservation with the human CREBBP, LymCBP is a valuable model for studying human cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, where epigenetic imbalance is a known pathological feature (Peixoto & Abel, 2013, PubMed: 23414628). Research into LymCBP continues to inform the development of HAT activators as potential therapeutic agents for enhancing memory and treating cognitive decline.

Other names

Lymnaea CBPLymnaea stagnalis CREB-binding proteinlsCBPHistone acetyltransferase CBP

Catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to lysine residues on histone tails (H3 and H4), promoting an open chromatin state and facilitating the transcription of memory-related genes (PubMed: 23838071).