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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Axon Stretch Growth: The Mechanotransduction of Neuronal Growth
Published on: August 10, 2011
Translation elongation in the nervous system
Alexander R Mikesell1, Anne E Willis2, Sarah Loerch3
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Abstract:
Protein synthesis is a highly energy-dependent process that consists of initiation, elongation, termination, and ribosome recycling. Historically, initiation has been viewed as the major site of translation regulation. However, growing recognition of elongation as a regulatory node has highlighted the importance of eukaryotic elongation factor (eEF)1A-dependent decoding, eEF2-catalyzed ribosome translocation, conditional elongation factors, ribosome speed, and tRNA dynamics. In neurons, these mechanisms are especially important because protein synthesis must be regulated across highly polarized cellular compartments. In this review, we summarize evidence from diverse model systems showing that tightly regulated translation elongation supports cellular function and viability, whereas disrupted elongation contributes to dysfunction and disease throughout the nervous system.
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