Erin Schuman: Protein Synthesis at Neuronal Synapses

Abstract

The complex morphology of neurons, with synapses located hundreds of microns from the cell body, necessitates the localization of important cell biological machines, including ribosomes, within dendrites and axons. Local translation of mRNAs is important for the function and plasticity of synapses. Using advanced sequencing and imaging techniques we have updated our understanding of the local transcriptome and identified the local translatome- identifying over 800 transcripts for which local translation is the dominant source of protein. In addition, we have explored the unique mechanisms neurons use to meet protein demands at synapses, identifying surprising features of neuronal and synaptic protein synthesis.

Duration of the talk:

Approx. 50 minutes, then general and specialized discussion.

More about the speaker and her research

Max Planck Institute for Brain Research

Host

Johann Bollmann