Local translation of classes of mRNAs that are targeted to neuronal dendrites

The functioning of the neuronal dendrite results from a variety of biological processes including mRNA transport to and protein translation in the dendrite. The complexity of the mRNA population in dendrites suggests that specific biological processes are modulated through the regulation of dendritic biology. There are various classes of mRNAs in dendrites whose translation modulates the ability of the dendrite to receive and integrate presynaptic information. Among these mRNAs are those encoding selective transcription factors that function in the neuronal soma and ionotropic glutamate receptors that function on the neuronal membrane. Conclusive evidence that these mRNAs can be translated is reviewed, and identification of the endogenous sites of translation in living dendrites is presented. These data, as well as those described in the other articles resulting from this colloquium, highlight the complexity of dendritic molecular biology and the exquisitely selective and sensitive modulatory role played by the dendrite in facilitating intracellular and intercellular communication.

[1]  D. Richter,et al.  Cell Polarity and Subcellular RNA Localization , 2001, Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation.

[2]  P. Crino,et al.  Stimulation of glutamate receptor protein synthesis and membrane insertion within isolated neuronal dendrites. , 2000, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[3]  A. Triller,et al.  Dendritic and Postsynaptic Protein Synthetic Machinery , 1999, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[4]  K. Becker,et al.  Presence and phosphorylation of transcription factors in developing dendrites. , 1998, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[5]  I. Weiler,et al.  Fragile X mental retardation protein is translated near synapses in response to neurotransmitter activation. , 1997, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[6]  P. Crino,et al.  Molecular Characterization of the Dendritic Growth Cone: Regulated mRNA Transport and Local Protein Synthesis , 1996, Neuron.

[7]  J. Brosius,et al.  Translational Machinery in Dendrites of Hippocampal Neurons in Culture , 1996, Journal of Neuroscience.

[8]  O. Steward,et al.  Protein Synthesis within Dendrites: Glycosylation of Newly Synthesized Proteins in Dendrites of Hippocampal Neurons in Culture , 1996, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[9]  E. Schuman,et al.  A Requirement for Local Protein Synthesis in Neurotrophin-Induced Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity , 1996, Science.

[10]  J. Eberwine,et al.  On the nature and differential distribution of mRNAs in hippocampal neurites: implications for neuronal functioning. , 1994, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[11]  I. Weiler,et al.  Synapse-activated protein synthesis as a possible mechanism of plastic neural change. , 1994, Progress in brain research.

[12]  I. Weiler,et al.  Metabotropic glutamate receptors trigger postsynaptic protein synthesis. , 1993, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[13]  M. Dichter,et al.  Electrophysiological comparison of pyramidal and stellate nonpyramidal neurons in dissociated cell culture of rat hippocampus , 1991, Brain Research Bulletin.

[14]  W. Cavenee,et al.  Familial predisposition to Wilms' tumour does not map to the short arm of chromosome 11 , 1988, Nature.

[15]  O. Steward,et al.  Selective dendritic transport of RNA in hippocampal neurons in culture , 1987, Nature.

[16]  D. Bodian.  A SUGGESTIVE RELATIONSHIP OF NERVE CELL RNA WITH SPECIFIC SYNAPTIC SITES. , 1965, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.