Neural Stem Cell Activation and the Role of Protein Synthesis

Adult neural stem cells are generated at embryonic stages by entering a quiescent state that allows their retention into adulthood and thereby maintenance of life-long brain homeostasis. Thus, a tight balance between the quiescence and activation state is instrumental to meet the brain demands for a specific cell type at the correct numbers, at a given time and position. Protein synthesis is the most energy-consuming process within the cell and, not surprisingly, it occurs at low rates in quiescent stem cells. This way quiescent cells adjust to energy constraints and avoid their premature depletion. Stem cell activation is characterized by upregulation of protein synthesis followed by cell division and differentiation. The role of such upregulation as causative or rather a consequence of the activation remains elusive. Here we summarize recent findings connecting stem cell activation to the regulation of protein synthesis, particularly focusing on embryonic and adult neural stem cells of the ventricular zone.