Answer: Activating TrkB receptors, stimulating MAPK and PI3K signaling, promoting survival gene expression, and modulating synaptic protein synthesis.
- A Blocking glutamate receptors largely, thereby reducing overall excitatory synaptic transmission activity as generally observed in typical laboratory settings
- B Activating TrkB receptors, stimulating MAPK and PI3K signaling, promoting survival gene expression, and modulating synaptic protein synthesis
- C Blocking apoptosis through a single, narrowly defined caspase-dependent signaling pathway mainly under usual circumstances according to most researchers
- D Inactivating synapses that are determined to be no longer needed within current neural circuit pathways in the majority of cases studied
Correct answer: B. Activating TrkB receptors, stimulating MAPK and PI3K signaling, promoting survival gene expression, and modulating synaptic protein synthesis
Explanation: BDNF activates TrkB receptor tyrosine kinase. Downstream: MAPK (growth/differentiation), PI3K-Akt (survival, translation), PLCgamma (Ca<sup>2+</sup>, CREB). Critical for LTP and memory consolidation.
Structure of a neuron. Image: LadyofHats (Mariana Ruiz), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Concept context
Brain, spinal cord, neurons, reflex arcs, and sense organs.