The Synaptic Transcriptome

The Synaptic Transcriptome - Using deep sequencing to identify mRNAs near the synapse, Erin Schuman and colleagues find that local translation at the synapse may be much more widespread than previously thought. Previous estimates of synaptic mRNAs were in the hundreds, but here the authors identify over 2500, which suggests a prominent role for local protein synthesis in the establishment, maintenance, and plasticity of synapses.