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Published Online May 14, 2009
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1173205

Research Articles

Submitted on March 9, 2009
Accepted on May 5, 2009

Synapse- and Stimulus-Specific Local Translation During Long-Term Neuronal Plasticity

Dan Ohtan Wang 1, Sang Mok Kim 2, Yali Zhao 1, Hongik Hwang 1, Satoru K. Miura 3, Wayne S. Sossin 4, Kelsey C. Martin 5*

1 Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, BSRB 390B, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1737, USA.
2 Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, BSRB 390B, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1737, USA.; Interdepartmental Program in Neurosciences, UCLA, BSRB 390B, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1737, USA.
3 Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, BSRB 390B, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1737, USA.
4 Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
5 Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA, BSRB 390B, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1737, USA.; Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, BSRB 390B, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1737, USA.; Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, BSRB 390B, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1737, USA.; Brain Research Institute, UCLA, BSRB 390B, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1737, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Kelsey C. Martin , E-mail: kcmartin{at}mednet.ucla.edu

Long-term memory and synaptic plasticity require changes in gene expression and yet can occur in a synapse-specific manner. Messenger RNA localization and regulated translation at synapses are thus critical for establishing synapse specificity. Using live-cell microscopy of photoconvertible fluorescent protein translational reporters, we directly visualized local translation at synapses during long-term facilitation of Aplysia sensory-motor synapses. Translation of the reporter required multiple applications of serotonin, was spatially restricted to stimulated synapses, was transcript- and stimulus-specific, and occurred during long-term facilitation but not during long-term depression of sensory-motor synapses. Translational regulation only occurred in the presence of a chemical synapse and required calcium signaling in the postsynaptic motor neuron. Thus, highly regulated local translation occurs at synapses during long-term plasticity and requires trans-synaptic signals.


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)