MicroRNAs in the axon and presynaptic nerve terminal

The distal structural/functional domains of the neuron, to include the axon and presynaptic nerve terminal, contain a large, heterogeneous population of mRNAs and an active protein synthetic system. These local components of the genetic expression machinery play a critical role in the development, function, and long-term viability of the neuron. In addition to the local mRNA populations these presynaptic domains contain a significant number of non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Here, we review a small, but rapidly evolving literature on the composition and function of microRNAs that regulate gene expression locally in the axon and nerve terminal. In this capacity, these small regulatory RNAs have a profound effect on axonal protein synthesis, local energy metabolism, and the modulation of axonal outgrowth and branching.