Etienne Herzog in Science

Publication :

Local protein synthesis is a ubiquitous feature of neuronal pre- and postsynaptic compartments. Hafner A-S, Donlin-Asp PG, Leitch B, Herzog E & Schuman EM (2019) Science 364:
DOI: 10.1126/science.aau3644

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Comment by Etienne Herzog :

Local transcriptome and translation in presynaptic terminals

Proteins carry out most of the functions in cells, including neurons, which are one of the most morphologically complex cell types in the body. This poses challenges for how proteins can be supplied to remote regions where connections (synapses) are made with other neurons. One solution to the neuron protein-supply problem involves the local synthesis of proteins from messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules located at or near synapses. Hafner et al. used advanced synapse purification, RNA sequencing methods and superresolution microscopy methods to show that axon terminals contain hundreds of mRNA molecule types as well as the active machinery for protein synthesis. Furthermore, the axon terminals were able to use these components to make proteins needed for synaptic plasticity.

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