Ribosomal Protein Dynamics and Its Association with Actin Filaments and Local Translation in Axonal Growth Cones of Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons

Local translation in growth cones plays a critical role in responses to extracellular stimuli, such as axon guidance cues. We previously showed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor activates translation and enhances novel protein synthesis through the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling in growth cones of dorsal root ganglion neurons. In this study, we focused on 40S ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6), 60S ribosomal protein P0/1/2 (RPP0/1/2), and actin filaments to determine how localization of ribosomal proteins changes with overall protein synthesis induced by neurotrophins. Our quantitative analysis using immunocytochemistry and super-resolution microscopy indicated that RPS6, RPP0/1/2, and actin tend to colocalize in the absence of stimulation, and that these ribosomal proteins tend to dissociate from actin and associate with each other when local protein synthesis is enhanced. We propose that this is because stimulation causes ribosomal subunits to associate with each other to form actively translating ribosomes (polysomes). This study further clarifies the role of cytoskeletal components in local translation in growth cones.

Graphical Abstract

Schematic representation of ribosomal protein localization in the the growth cone. a Ribosomal proteins RPS6 and RP0/1/2 are associated with actin in the absence of stimulation. b Upon stimulation by neurotrophins, these two subunit proteins dissociate from actin and bind to each other to form the 80S ribosome initiation complex