MRna in the Axonal Compartment of Neurons

Abstract

In the last three decades it has become evident that the axonal compartment of neurons harbours a variety of RNA molecules, such as transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA and messenger RNA. The occurrence of these molecules would allow the axonal domain to sustain extrasomal protein synthesis. In this review the data will be presented that led to this conclusion. In addition to the mRNAs encoding cytoskeletal proteins, in axons of many peptidergic neurons transcripts encoding the endogenous neuropeptides have been shown to be present. Until this moment no conclusive evidence has been presented on the function(s) of these neuropeptide encoding mRNAs.