Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
DGIST team first to uncover CASKIN2 protein's key brain function
Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) professor Ko Jae-won, left, and researcher Jang Gyu-bin at Ko's Center for Synapse Diversity and Specificity / Courtesy of DGIST
By Lee Gyu-lee
Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) professor Ko Jae-won and his research team have identified, for the first time in the world, the function of CASKIN2. This brain protein plays a key role in precise neuronal signaling and memory formation.
The school’s Center for Synapse Diversity and Specificity, led by Ko, announced that it has found that the CASKIN2 protein helps control how neurons send and receive signals at synapses, where one neuron communicates with another cell, usually another neuron.
The study marks the first time the precise function of this protein has been uncovered. It is expected to yield crucial insights into the causes of — and potential new treatments for — brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and autism.
The human brain contains billions of neurons that exchange information through synapses, where the sending and receiving ends must align with nanometer precision for accurate signaling. Until now, the molecular mechanisms behind this sophisticated alignment have remained unclear.
The team discovered that the protein CASKIN2, located at the sending side of the neuron, acts as a key regulator of signal strength and quality at excitatory synapses. While another similar protein, CASKIN1, fails to perform this role, CASKIN2 was shown to play a unique and irreplaceable role in stabilizing communication across neurons.
More importantly, the study found that CASKIN2 not only works in the signal-sending neuron but also affects the receiving neuron’s activity, acting as a conductor directing both sides of the communication.
The research team also found that this process depends on CASKIN2’s interaction with another protein called PTPσ, which activates CASKIN2 through a chemical switch, reorganizing the cell for steadier signals and sharper neuron responses.
Using experiments in mice, the researchers showed that the loss of either CASKIN2 or PTPσ impaired the animals’ ability to remember new locations, which is clear evidence that these proteins are vital for learning and memory.
“Our study reveals, at the molecular level, how presynaptic CASKIN2 interacts with PTPσ to regulate postsynaptic functions and contribute to memory formation,” Ko said in a press release.
“This finding provides a critical clue to understanding how neurons communicate with precision and lays the groundwork for developing new therapeutics targeting the CASKIN2–PTPσ pathway for neurological disorders.”
The study was published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Wednesday.