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Sci. STKE, 6 September 2005
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.3002005tr25]

A Model for Local Regulation of Translation Near Active Synapses

Kenneth S. Kosik1* and Anna M. Krichevsky2

1Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA.
2Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

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*Corresponding author. E-mail: kosik{at}lifesci.ucsb.edu

Description

RNA granules (GR) are macromolecular complexes that contain mRNA, ribosomes and ribosomal subunits, and other components, and serve to sequester these components until translation is needed in response to synaptic activity. In neurons, some RNA granules are docked, whereas others are motile with oscillatory movements. A stimulus induces reorganization and positional readjustment of granules in relation to a cluster of synapses and local release of stored mRNA, ribosomes, and translation factors. The release of these components and the translation of the released mRNAs may contribute to the long-lasting changes associated with synaptic activity, so-called synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity is believed to underlie such processes as memory formation.

Abbreviations used in the animation include P, preexisting polysomes; R, preexisting clusters of ribosomes; MT, microtubules.

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Educational Details

Learning Resource Type: Animation

Context: Undergraduate upper division, graduate, professional (degree program)

Intended Users: Teacher, learner

Intended Educational Use: Teach, learn

Discipline: Neurobiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology

Keywords: signal transduction, translation, action potential, synaptic plasticity, mRNA, movie

Technical Details

Format: mov file

Size: 55 kb

Requirements: This animation will play with any movie player that plays .mov files, such as Quicktime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/player/)

Related Resources

Perspective

K. Kosik, A. Krichevsky, The message and the messenger: Delivering RNA in neurons. Sci. STKE 2002, pe16 (2002). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Limits for Use

Cost: Free

Rights: This material may be downloaded, printed, linked to, and/or redistributed without modification for noncommercial, course-teaching purposes only, provided credit to STKE is included by listing the citation for the Teaching Resource.

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Citation: K. S. Kosik, A. M. Krichevsky, A model for local regulation of translation near active synapses. Sci. STKE 2005, tr25 (2005).

© 2005 American Association for the Advancement of Science

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