AmaZinc link between TrkB transactivation and synaptic plasticity

While Trk receptors can be activated in a neurotrophin-independent manner through transactivation by GPCR ligands, its physiological significance in the brain remains unknown. Huang et al. have now identified a novel mechanism of TrkB transactivation. They show that zinc ions can transactivate TrkB independent of neurotrophins and that such a transactivation is important for mossy fiber long-term potentiation (LTP).