Abstract
How can cells sense their own size to coordinate biosynthesis and metabolism with their growth needs? We recently proposed a motor-dependent bidirectional transport mechanism for axon length and cell size sensing, but the nature of the motor-transported size signals remained elusive. Here, we show that motor-dependent mRNA localization regulates neuronal growth and cycling cell size. We found that the RNA-binding protein nucleolin is associated with importin beta1 mRNA in axons. Perturbation of nucleolin association with kinesins reduces its levels in axons, with a concomitant reduction in axonal importin beta1 mRNA and protein levels. Strikingly, subcellular sequestration of nucleolin or importin beta1 enhances axonal growth and causes a subcellular shift in protein synthesis. Similar findings were obtained in fibroblasts. Thus, subcellular mRNA localization regulates size and growth in both neurons and cycling cells.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1664-1676 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Cell Reports |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 9 Aug 2016 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology