Teaching resources. A model for local regulation of translation near active synapses.
Synaptic plasticity results in enduring changes in synaptic function. Localized protein synthesis is part of this process. This animation shows how a dynamic macromolecular structure, the RNA granule, may allow localized translation of proteins at the site of active synapses and thereby serve as a key element contributing to changes in protein production leading to synaptic plasticity. This animation would be useful in teaching a neurobiology or neuroscience course, where it could be used to illustrate mechanisms for activity-dependent protein translation, or in a biochemistry course or a molecular or cellular biology course, where it could be used to illustrate mechanisms governing regulation of protein translation.
Kosik
Kenneth S
KS
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5060, USA. kosik@lifesci.ucsb.edu
Krichevsky
Anna M
AM
D008957:Models, Genetic; D009040:Motion Pictures; D009446:Neurobiology / Q000193:education*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000502:physiology*
D012313:RNA