# LOCAL TRANSLATION IN ASTROCYTES

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $333,594

## Abstract

Dysregulation of synapses is thought to underlie a range of neurological disorders, and astrocytes are
key mediators of synaptic maintenance, formation and elimination. Neurons form more synapses when co-
cultured with astrocytes, and a single astrocyte may ensheath 100,000 synapses in vivo. This critical role led to
the “tripartite synapse” model: the synapse is not only comprised of the presynaptic bouton and postsynaptic
density but also includes a peripheral astroglial process(PAP). Like dendrites and boutons, the PAP has a
specific protein composition and is remodeled morphologically in response to local activity.
 Extensive work has demonstrated that synaptic remodeling is regulated by local translation in neurons,
particularly in the dendrite. Specific mRNAs are shuttled into dendrites where their translation can be stimulated
by a variety of extracellular signals, allowing for fine-tuned regulation of local protein synthesis. Newly
synthesized proteins are thought to mediate the strengthening of individual synapses that underlies learning and
memory, as inhibiting translation also inhibits formation of memory. As both PAPs and dendrites are remodeled
in response to activity, it is likely that both responses are essential to increasing the overall efficacy of individual
synapses in response to experience. Thus a key question in the field is are astrocytes, like neurons, also able to
localize specific mRNAs to their processes for translation? Here, we will address this question using biochemical
approaches and functional assays to test for the enrichment and translation of specific mRNAs in the PAP. We
will seek to: 1) identify the transcripts localized to astroglial ribosomes in processes, 2) determine whether
features in the sequence of the transcripts themselves mediate their local translation in astrocytes, 3) determine
whether molecular cues of neuronal activity are capable of stimulating local translation in astrocytes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9898492
- **Project number:** 5R01NS102272-04
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSEPH D DOUGHERTY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $333,594
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9898492

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9898492, LOCAL TRANSLATION IN ASTROCYTES (5R01NS102272-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9898492. Licensed CC0.

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