mRNAs in un-injured and injured rat cortical axons isolated after 13 days in culture

Efficient growth cone regeneration requires protein synthesis in the adult mammalian brain and spinal cord. Recent evidence suggests that the local availability of protein synthesis machinery in adult mammalian axons may be an indicator of their regenerative capacity. Here we investigated the local protein synthesis capacity in matured cortical axons, which have poor regenerative capacity, yet are critical for recovery following injury due to traumatic brain injury and stroke. This work is the first to biochemically isolate and identify mRNA from mammalian cortical axons, making use of a unique microfluidic platform to isolate axons free of other cellular debris. We first sought to identify mRNA in nave axons that makes up the pool of mRNA available for translation initiated following axotomy. Next, we investigated changes in the mRNA population localized to axons 2 days following axotomy and growth cone regeneration.

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Taylor AM, Berchtold NC, Perreau VM, Tu CH, Li Jeon N, Cotman CW