Local protein synthesis is a ubiquitous feature of neuronal pre- and postsynaptic compartments

Abstract

There is ample evidence for localized mRNAs and protein synthesis in neuronal dendrites, however, demonstrations of these processes in presynaptic terminals are limited. We used expansion microscopy to resolve pre- and postsynaptic compartments in brain slices. Most presynaptic terminals in the hippocampus and forebrain contained mRNA and ribosomes. We sorted fluorescently labeled synaptosomes from mouse brain and then sequenced hundreds of mRNA species present within excitatory boutons. After brief metabolic labeling, more them 30% of all presynaptic terminals exhibited a signal, providing evidence for ongoing protein synthesis. We tested different classic plasticity paradigms and observed unique patterns of rapid pre- and/or postsynaptic translation. Thus presynaptic terminals are translationally competent and local protein synthesis is differentially recruited to drive compartment-specific phenotypes that underlie different forms of plasticity.