Axonal ribosomes and mRNAs associate with fragile X granules in adult rodent and human brains.

ABSTRACT: Local mRNA translation in growing axons allows for rapid and precise regulation of protein expression in response to extrinsic stimuli. However, the role of local translation in mature CNS axons is unknown. Such a mechanism requires the presence of translational machinery and associated mRNAs in circuit-integrated brain axons. Here we use a combination of genetic, quantitative imaging and super-resolution microscopy approaches to show that mature axons in the mammalian brain contain ribosomes, the translational regulator FMRP and a subset of FMRP mRNA targets. This axonal translational machinery is associated with Fragile X granules (FXGs), which are restricted to axons in a stereotyped subset of brain circuits. FXGs and associated axonal translational machinery are present in hippocampus

SUBMITTER: Akins MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5815656 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature