Staff writer Shreya Iyer discusses the recent Kavli Prize in Neuroscience, awarded for breakthroughs in the research on proteins in neurons.
From remembering a name to staying awake through the day, the brain performs extraordinary tasks whose underlying mechanisms scientists are still working to understand.
One such mechanism is local protein translation in neurons, which aids in neuroplasticity and brain development. This discovery is the centre of this year’s Kavli Prize in Neuroscience.
The Kavli Prize is a prestigious award, honouring scientists with breakthroughs in the fields of Nanoscience, Astrophysics and Neuroscience. It is awarded every two years by the Kavli Foundation. The neuroscientists recognised this year are Christine Holt, Kelsey Martin, Erin Schuman and Oswald Steward.
Central to the discovery of local protein translation is the presence of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in nerves.
This challenged the traditional view that protein translation occurred only in the neuron’s cell body and was then transported to other parts. It is now known that the neuron is able to make proteins at specific locations in the nerve like the synapse and dendrites, allowing it to control activity in those locations.
The main part of this discovery relates to synaptic plasticity.
Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses (the junction or gap between two neurons) to strengthen or weaken over time in response to new experiences. With the new knowledge of local protein synthesis, it can be said that each synapse can individually produce proteins required to support its strength, without relying on the cell body.
This leads to a quicker and more efficient response.
Moreover, locally synthesized proteins are beneficial for axonal growth as well. Axons are the long projections of the neuron that stem from the cell body and carry signals from one neuron to another.
As neurons grow, axons must navigate to the correct targets, guided by chemical signals. Locally synthesised proteins (say, on the axonal cone itself) allow the growing axon to respond precisely to these signals and so complement its growth.
Oswald Steward’s research set the basis for local protein synthesis, while Christine Holt demonstrated that for the development of axon tips, locally synthesized proteins are a requirement.
Kelsey Martin demonstrated that individual branches of the neuron can undergo synaptic strengthening independent of the cell body through local protein synthesis, and Erin Schuman demonstrated that local protein production in dendrites supports long-lasting synaptic changes in the hippocampus.
Furthermore, this knowledge opens doors in the research of neurodevelopmental disorders (Autism, Fragile X syndrome etc), brain and spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases (like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, especially since some studies have linked disruptions in local protein translation to ALS).
Scientists can now discover new possibilities for treatments of these disorders and diseases by preserving cognitive function, improving recovery from injury and restoring neural connections.
To conclude, this discovery sheds more light on the cellular processes that occur in neurons, aiding synaptic plasticity and brain development. This
This is a step further in understanding the functioning of this widely complex organ, one whose full capabilities scientists hope to one day uncover and understand.
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