Axonal transport of eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1alpha mRNA couples transcription in the nucleus to long-term facilitation at the synapse.

ABSTRACT: Long-term synaptic plasticity requires both gene expression in the nucleus and local protein synthesis at synapses. The effector proteins that link molecular events in the cell body with local maintenance of synaptic strength are not known. We now show that treatment with serotonin (5-HT) that produces long-term facilitation induces the Aplysia eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1alpha (Ap-eEF1A) as a late gene that might serve this coupling function in sensory neurons. Although the translation factor is induced, it is not transported into axon processes when the stimulation with 5-HT was restricted to the cell body. In contrast, its mRNA is transported when 5-HT was applied to both cell body and synapses. Intracellular injection of antisense oligonucleotides or antibodies that block

SUBMITTER: Giustetto M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC263873 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature