Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Asha Dwivedy
Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Michael S Minett
Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Anaïs Bellon
Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Extrinsic cues trigger the local translation of specific mRNAs in growing axons via cell surface receptors. The coupling of ribosomes to receptors has been proposed as a mechanism linking signals to local translation but it is not known how broadly this mechanism operates, nor whether it can selectively regulate mRNA translation. We report that receptor-ribosome coupling is employed by multiple guidance cue receptors and this interaction is mRNA-dependent. We find that different receptors associate with distinct sets of mRNAs and RNA-binding proteins. Cue stimulation of growing Xenopus retinal ganglion cell axons induces rapid dissociation of ribosomes from receptors and the selective translation of receptor-specific mRNAs. Further, we show that receptor-ribosome dissociation and cue-induced selective translation are inhibited by co-exposure to translation-repressive cues, suggesting a novel mode of signal integration. Our findings reveal receptor-specific interactomes and suggest a generalizable model for cue-selective control of the local proteome.
