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Updated: Jul 5, 2025
09:13
In vivo Interrogation of Central Nervous System Translatome by Polyribosome Fractionation
Published on: April 30, 2014
12.3K
Ribosome inactivation regulates translation elongation in neurons
Bastian Popper1, Martina Bürkle2, Giuliana Ciccopiedi3
1Core Facility Animal Models, Biomedical Center (BMC), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|January 14, 2024
Summary
Cells dynamically regulate ribosome speed to adapt. Neurons inactivate ribosomes to control translation, a mechanism crucial for brain development and function.
Area of Science:
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cellular plasticity requires dynamic adaptation of the translatome and proteome.
- While translation initiation is well-studied, ribosome speed regulation remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate global translation kinetics and ribosome speed regulation across different cell types.
- To uncover novel mechanisms of translational control in neurons.
Main Methods:
- Timed ribosome runoff assay
- Proteomics analysis
- Transmission electron microscopy
Main Results:
- Ribosome speeds vary significantly across cell types, with mature cortical neurons showing the highest rate.
- Neurons maintain high translation rates despite lower eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) levels by inactivating a fraction of ribosomes.
- Neuronal excitation increases ribosome inactivation in an eEF2-dependent manner.
Conclusions:
- Neurons employ a novel regulatory mechanism involving dynamic ribosome inactivation to control translational remodeling.
- This mechanism is essential for adapting to changing demands, such as during neuronal excitation.
- Aberrant translation regulation via ribosome inactivation may contribute to developmental brain disorders.
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