Protein Synthesis and Translational Control in Neural Stem Cell Development and Neurogenesis

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) are the origin of almost all neural cells in the mammalian brain and generate neurons throughout life. The balance of NSC maintenance and differentiation is thus critical for brain development and function. This balance is precisely controlled by sophisticated gene expression programs at multiple levels. While transcriptional regulation is vital for many aspects of neurogenesis from NSCs, recent studies highlight that protein synthesis controlled by spatiotemporal translational programs plays an equally important role in NSC lineage progression and fate decision. Alterations in coordinated translational programs underlie the pathogenesis of some human diseases. In this review, we discuss how protein synthesis changes in NSCs during neurogenesis, how it is regulated in a global or gene-specific manner by the orchestrated action of the translational machinery and RNA-binding proteins, and how deregulation of protein synthesis in NSCs contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders.