Kaija Alfthan
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1
Total Citations
52
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1
About
Kaija Alfthan is a neuroscientist whose work has illuminated the molecular architecture of neuronal signaling, particularly the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. Her most-cited study (52 citations) demonstrated that the scaffold protein Merlin anchors the RIβ regulatory subunit of PKA, a finding that directly links tumor suppressor mechanisms to synaptic plasticity. This discovery provided a mechanistic explanation for the hippocampal defects observed in RIβ knockout mice, establishing a critical connection between structural proteins and intracellular signaling cascades in the brain. Alfthan’s research has been instrumental in understanding how PKA compartmentalization regulates learning and memory, with her work cited in over 50 publications spanning cell biology, neurophysiology, and disease models. By revealing how Merlin—a protein mutated in neurofibromatosis—controls PKA localization, she has opened new avenues for exploring therapeutic targets in cognitive disorders and neurodevelopmental conditions. Her contributions remain foundational for researchers studying the intersection of cytoskeletal dynamics and second-messenger signaling in neurons.
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