Dynamic remodeling of ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum in axon terminals of motoneurons

Chunchu Deng, Mehri Moradi, Sebastian Reinhard, Changhe Ji, Sibylle Jablonka, Luisa Hennlein, Patrick Lüningschrör, Sören Doose, Markus Sauer, Michael Sendtner

Journal of Cell Science, Vol. 134(22), p. jcs258785 · 2021

Abstract

In neurons, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms a highly dynamic network that enters axons and presynaptic terminals and plays a central role in Ca2+ homeostasis and synapse maintenance; however, the underlying mechanisms involved in regulation of its dynamic remodeling as well as its function in axon development and presynaptic differentiation remain elusive. Here, we used high-resolution microscopy and live-cell imaging to investigate rapid movements of the ER and ribosomes in axons of cultured motoneurons after stimulation with brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Our results indicate that the ER extends into axonal growth cone filopodia, where its integrity and dynamic remodeling are regulated mainly by actin and the actin-based motor protein myosin VI (encoded by Myo6). Additionally, we found that in axonal growth cones, ribosomes assemble into 80S subunits within seconds and associate with the ER in response to extracellular stimuli, which describes a novel function of axonal ER in dynamic regulation of local translation. This article has an associated First Person interview with Chunchu Deng, joint first author of the paper.

Keywords

Axon terminals BDNF stimulation Dynamics of local translation ER dynamics

Cite this article

@article{deng_dynamic_2021,
  title = {Dynamic remodeling of ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum in axon terminals of motoneurons},
  volume = {134},
  issn = {1477-9137},
  doi = {10.1242/jcs.258785},
  abstract = {In neurons, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms a highly dynamic network that enters axons and presynaptic terminals and plays a central role in Ca2+ homeostasis and synapse maintenance; however, the underlying mechanisms involved in regulation of its dynamic remodeling as well as its function in axon development and presynaptic differentiation remain elusive. Here, we used high-resolution microscopy and live-cell imaging to investigate rapid movements of the ER and ribosomes in axons of cultured motoneurons after stimulation with brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Our results indicate that the ER extends into axonal growth cone filopodia, where its integrity and dynamic remodeling are regulated mainly by actin and the actin-based motor protein myosin VI (encoded by Myo6). Additionally, we found that in axonal growth cones, ribosomes assemble into 80S subunits within seconds and associate with the ER in response to extracellular stimuli, which describes a novel function of axonal ER in dynamic regulation of local translation. This article has an associated First Person interview with Chunchu Deng, joint first author of the paper.},
  language = {eng},
  number = {22},
  journal = {Journal of Cell Science},
  author = {Deng, Chunchu and Moradi, Mehri and Reinhard, Sebastian and Ji, Changhe and Jablonka, Sibylle and Hennlein, Luisa and Lüningschrör, Patrick and Doose, Sören and Sauer, Markus and Sendtner, Michael},
  year = {2021},
  pmid = {34668554},
  keywords = {Axon terminals, BDNF stimulation, Dynamics of local translation, ER dynamics},
  pages = {jcs258785},
}
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