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Protein Synthesis in Nerve Terminals and the Glia–Neuron Unit

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Cell Biology of the Axon

Part of the book series: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation ((RESULTS,volume 48))

Abstract

The progressive philogenetic lengthening of axonal processes and the increase in complexity of terminal axonal arborizations markedly augmented the demands of the neuronal cytoplasmic mass on somatic gene expression. It is proposed that in an adaptive response to this challenge, novel gene expression functions developed in the axon compartment, consisting of axonal and presynaptic translation systems that rely on the delivery of transcripts synthesized in adjacent glial cells. Such intercellular mode of gene expression would allow more rapid plastic changes to occur in spatially restricted neuronal domains, down to the size of individual synapses. The cell body contribution to local gene expression in well-differentiated neurons remains to be defined. The history of this concept and the experimental evidence supporting its validity are critically discussed in this article. The merit of this perspective lies with the recognition that plasticity events represent a major occurrence in the brain, and that they largely occur at synaptic sites, including presynaptic endings.

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Abbreviations

CAP:

Chloramphenicol

CXM:

Cycloheximide

EB:

Ethidium bromide

EM:

Electron microscopy

ESI:

Electron spectroscopic imaging

MW:

Molecular weight

NF:

Neurofilament

RNA bases:

A adenine, C cytosine, G guanine, U uracil

RNP:

Ribonucleoprotein particle

TH:

Tyrosine hydroxylase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy

    Marianna Crispino, Carolina Cefaliello & Antonio Giuditta

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1381, USA

    Barry Kaplan

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  1. Marianna Crispino
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  2. Carolina Cefaliello
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  3. Barry Kaplan
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  4. Antonio Giuditta
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Correspondence to Antonio Giuditta .

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    Edward Koenig

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Crispino, M., Cefaliello, C., Kaplan, B., Giuditta, A. (2009). Protein Synthesis in Nerve Terminals and the Glia–Neuron Unit. In: Koenig, E. (eds) Cell Biology of the Axon. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, vol 48. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/400_2009_9

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