Cited by 202Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchRNA Research and SplicingRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

Astrocytes locally translate transcripts in their peripheral processes

Open access
Sakers, Kristina, Lake, Allison M., Khazanchi, Rohan, Ouwenga, Rebecca, Vasek, Michael J., Dani, Adish, Dougherty, Joseph D.·2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Significance: Cellular compartments are specialized for particular functions. In astrocytes, the peripheral, perisynaptic processes contain proteins specialized for reuptake of neurotransmitters and ions, and have been shown to alter their morphology in response to activity. Regulated transport of a specific subset of nuclear-derived mRNAs to specific compartments is thought to support the specialization of these compartments and allow for local regulation of translation. In neurons, local translation near activated synapses is thought to generate the proteins needed for the synaptic alterations that constitute memory. We demonstrate that astrocytes also have sequence-dependent local translation in their peripheral processes, including transcripts with roles in regulating synapses, and identify one mechanism regulating this translation. These findings suggest local translation in astrocyte processes may play a role in synapse modulation.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.1617782114

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  • The presence of Plxnb1 mRNA puncta in hypertrophic processes of reactive astrocytes signifies local translation.

    “signifying local translation, a scenario described for Gfap and other key astrocyte genes35, 36.”

    From Regulation of cell distancing in peri-plaque glial nets by Plexin-B1 affects glial activation and amyloid compaction in Alzheimer’s disease (2024) · cites this paper as [35]

    The Discussion and Fig. 2 report local protein synthesis in peripheral astrocyte processes, and Fig. 5 includes Gfap among the mRNAs examined for localization. The paper does not study Plxnb1 or reactive, hypertrophic astrocytes; it also does not establish that mRNA puncta alone signify translation of a particular transcript. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • HA-tagged ribosomes are present throughout the astrocyte, including distal processes where local translation occurs.

    “We further confirmed that HA-tagged ribosomes are present throughout the astrocyte, including distal processes where local translation occurs (Figure 1G; Sakers et al., 2017).”

    From The aging astrocyte transcriptome from multiple regions of the mouse brain. (2018) · cites this paper as Sakers et al., 2017

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Authors
Sakers, K., Lake, A. M., Khazanchi, R., Ouwenga, R., Vasek, M. J., Dani, A., & Dougherty, J. D.
Affiliations
Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Corresponding author
Dougherty, Joseph D.
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2017-04-24
Volume
114
Issue
19
Pages
E3830-E3838
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2951270532
Cited by
202
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 8
FWCI
2.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Children's Discovery Institute (MD-II-2013-269)
  • HHS | National Institutes of Health (DA038458-01, MH099798-01)
  • WUSTL Interface of Psychology Neuroscience and Genetics Training Grant (5T32 GM081739)
  • WUSTL Neurosciences Program Training Grant (T32 GM008151)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Research and Splicing
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Keywords
astrocytes, local translation, mRNA transport, synaptic regulation
MeSH terms
Animals, Astrocytes, Cell Nucleus, Humans, Memory, Neurons, RNA, Messenger, Synapses, Protein Biosynthesis

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