The broad objective of this proposal is to delineate mechanisms of mRNA translation in mammalian neurons and especially dendrites that modify synaptic efficacy. CPEB, a sequence-specific mRNA binding protein that promotes cytoplasmic polyadenylation- induced translation, is present at synapto-dendrites of mammalian neurons. CPEB knockout mice display defects in synaptic plasticity and learning and memory, indicating the importance of the cytoplasmic polyadenylation machinery in complex brain function. CPEB nucleates a set of factors on mRNA to promote polyadenylation including the non- canonical poly(A) polymerase Gld2, the deadenylating enzyme PARN, the eIF4E-binding protein neuroguidin (Ngd), the scaffold protein symplekin, and others. These proteins reside in a complex in dendrites of mammalian neurons where they modulate the polyadenylation and translation of several mRNAs. Two of these factors, Gld2 and Ngd, regulate synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons but do so in opposite directions;Gld2 depletion induces a deficit in long-term potentiation (LTP) while Ngd depletion enhances it. Moreover, Gld2 depletion reduces translation in dendrites while Ngd depletion stimulates it. These data indicate that the interplay among CPEB, Gld2, and Ngd form a coherent molecular foundation of translation control in dendrites that in turn modulates synaptic efficacy. The goals of the first specific aim are to identify deadenylating enzymes that are likely to modify poly(A) length and changes in translation as well as to assess whether they influence synaptic function.
Aim 2 is to investigate the full panoply of mRNAs that are bound by CPEB in the brain and determine whether they undergo activity-dependent polyadenylation and translation in dendrites. The goal of aim 3 is to develop and use a new deep sequencing method to identify dendritic mRNAs that undergo cytoplasmic polyadenylation and translation in response to in LTP induction in vitro and learning in vivo. These experiments will enhance our understanding of how local mRNA translation in neurons mediates synapse function, which has important implications for higher brain function and neuropathies such as autism, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and others.

Public Health Relevance

Translational control is one process that regulates synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. Consequently, this proposal has important implications for human health particularly as it relates to brain functions such as memory loss, dementia, and organismal aging.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS079415-02
Application #
8606520
Study Section
Synapses, Cytoskeleton and Trafficking Study Section (SYN)
Program Officer
Mamounas, Laura
Project Start
2013-02-01
Project End
2018-01-31
Budget Start
2014-02-01
Budget End
2015-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$817,582
Indirect Cost
$325,201
Name
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
603847393
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01655
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McFleder, Rhonda L; Mansur, Fernanda; Richter, Joel D (2017) Dynamic Control of Dendritic mRNA Expression by CNOT7 Regulates Synaptic Efficacy and Higher Cognitive Function. Cell Rep 20:683-696
Gao, Fen-Biao; Richter, Joel D; Cleveland, Don W (2017) Rethinking Unconventional Translation in Neurodegeneration. Cell 171:994-1000
Shin, Jihae; Salameh, Johnny S; Richter, Joel D (2016) Impaired neurodevelopment by the low complexity domain of CPEB4 reveals a convergent pathway with neurodegeneration. Sci Rep 6:29395
Mansur, Fernanda; Ivshina, Maria; Gu, Weifeng et al. (2016) Gld2-catalyzed 3' monoadenylation of miRNAs in the hippocampus has no detectable effect on their stability or on animal behavior. RNA 22:1492-9
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Richter, Joel D; Coller, Jeff (2015) Pausing on Polyribosomes: Make Way for Elongation in Translational Control. Cell 163:292-300
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Swanger, Sharon A; He, Yuncen A; Richter, Joel D et al. (2013) Dendritic GluN2A synthesis mediates activity-induced NMDA receptor insertion. J Neurosci 33:8898-908

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