Spatially restricting gene expression by local translation at synapses
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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Isolation and Quantification of Axonal mRNAs Using Porous Membrane Inserts and RTddPCR
Published on: February 6, 2026
Dan Ohtan Wang1, Kelsey C Martin, R Suzanne Zukin
1Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, USA.
Abstract:
mRNA localization and regulated translation provide a means of spatially restricting gene expression within each of the thousands of subcellular compartments made by a neuron, thereby vastly increasing the computational capacity of the brain. Recent studies reveal that local translation is regulated by stimuli that trigger neurite outgrowth and/or collapse, axon guidance, synapse formation, pruning, activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, and injury-induced axonal regeneration. Impairments in the local regulation of translation result in aberrant signaling, physiology and morphology of neurons, and are linked to neurological disorders. This review highlights current advances in understanding how mRNA translation is repressed during transport and how local translation is activated by stimuli. We address the function of local translation in the context of fragile X mental retardation.
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