Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Isolation and Quantification of Axonal mRNAs Using Porous Membrane Inserts and RTddPCR
Published on: February 6, 2026
Axonal and presynaptic protein synthesis: new insights into the biology of the neuron
Antonio Giuditta1, Barry B Kaplan, Jan van Minnen
1Department of General and Environmental Physiology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. giuditta@unina.it
Abstract:
The presence of a local mRNA translation system in axons and terminals was proposed almost 40 years ago. Over the ensuing period, an impressive body of evidence has grown to support this proposal -- yet the nerve cell body is still considered to be the only source of axonal and presynaptic proteins. To dispel this lingering neglect, we now present the wealth of recent observations bearing on this central idea, and consider their impact on our understanding of the biology of the neuron. We demonstrate that extrasomatic translation sites, which are now well recognized in dendrites, are also present in axonal and presynaptic compartments.
Related Concept Videos
Synaptic Signaling
Synaptic Signaling
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Neurons: The Axon
The axon attaches to the cell body at a cone-shaped elevation called the axon hillock. The initial part of the axon, closest to the hillock, is known as the initial segment.
The Synapse
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters
Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action

