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Review
. 2006 Jul 5;26(27):7139-42.
doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1821-06.2006.

mRNA transport in dendrites: RNA granules, motors, and tracks

Nobutaka Hirokawa  1
Affiliations
Review

mRNA transport in dendrites: RNA granules, motors, and tracks

Nobutaka Hirokawa. J Neurosci. .

Abstract

The targeting of mRNAs to neuronal dendrites is an important protein sorting mechanism. Recent studies have revealed that mRNAs are transported by molecular motors. The kinesin superfamily protein KIF5 transports mRNAs such as calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIalpha (CaMKIIalpha) and Arc mRNAs along microtubules in large granules containing proteins involved in RNA transport, protein synthesis, RNA helicases, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), and RNA-associated proteins. This transport is fundamental to local protein synthesis and to the regulation of neuronal function.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
KIFs and cargoes for axonal and dendritic transport. a, Microtubule polarity in the axon and dendrites. b, KIFs and their cargoes in the axon. c, KIFs and their cargoes in dendrites. mRNA and granules composed of a large number of proteins are transported by KIF5. Reproduced with permission from Hirokawa and Takemura (2005).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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