Protein synthesis by platelets: historical and new perspectives

Abstract

In the late 1960s, numerous investigators independently demonstrated that platelets are capable of synthesizing proteins. Studies continued at a steady pace over the next 30 years and into the 21st century. Collectively, these investigations confirmed that platelets synthesize proteins and that the pattern of protein synthesis changes in response to cellular activation. More recent studies have characterized the mechanisms by which platelets synthesize proteins and have shown that protein synthesis alters the phenotype and functions of platelets. Here, we chronologically review our increased understanding of protein synthetic responses in platelets and discuss how the field may evolve over the next decade.

Figure 1. Signal-dependent pre-mRNA splicing in platelets

During the final stages of differentiation, splicing factors accumulate in the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes. The splicing components, along with specific pre-mRNAs, are transferred to anucleate platelets. Stimulated platelets activate their splicing machinery and generate mature mRNAs that are subsequently translated into protein. This novel pathway of control provides platelets with a mechanism to alter their transcriptome and proteome profile in response to cellular activation.