Monosomes actively translate synaptic mRNAs in neuronal processes

Abstract

Monosomes translate proteins in neurons Like all other cells, neurons use different proteins to process information and respond to stimuli. To meet the huge demands for new proteins in their large and complex cell volume, neurons have moved the protein templates—messenger RNAs (mRNAs)—and the protein synthesis machines—ribosomes—out to synapses to make proteins locally. During protein synthesis, multiple ribosomes can form a structure known as a polysome, which produces multiple protein copies from a single mRNA. Working in rodent preparations, Biever et al. found that solitary, mRNA-associated ribosomes, or monosomes, are a substantial source of proteins in neuronal processes. Many synaptic proteins are made on single ribosomes, which may solve the problem of limited space in tiny synaptic compartments. Science , this issue p. eaay4991