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Subcellular localization of mRNA in neuronal cells

Contributions of high-resolutionin situ Hybridization techniques

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Abstract

The development of technologies for high-resolution nucleic acid localization in cells and tissues has contributed significantly to our understanding of transcriptional and translational regulation in eukaryotic cells. These methods include nonisotopicin situ hybridization methods for light and electron microscopy, and fluorescent tagging for the study of nucleic acid behavior in living cells.In situ hybridization to detect messenger RNA has led to the discovery that individual transcripts may be selectively targeted to particular subcellular domains. In the nervous system, certain species of mRNA have been localized in distal processes in nerve cells and glia. Direct visualization of mRNA and its interactions with subcellular features, such as synaptic specializations, cytoskeletal elements, and nuclear pores, have been achieved. Of particular interest is the presence of mRNA and ribosomes in dendrites, beneath synaptic contacts, suggesting the possibility of synaptic regulation of protein synthesis. The following article will describe the application of high-resolutionin situ hybridization and live imaging techniques to the study of mRNA targeting in neurons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 92093-0608, La Jolla, CA

    Maryann E. Martone & Mark H. Ellisman

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie-Mellon University, 15213, Pittsburgh, PA

    John A. Pollock

Authors
  1. Maryann E. Martone
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  2. John A. Pollock
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  3. Mark H. Ellisman
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Martone, M.E., Pollock, J.A. & Ellisman, M.H. Subcellular localization of mRNA in neuronal cells. Mol Neurobiol 18, 227–246 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02741301

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