Synaptojanin 2 mediated mRNA tethering fuels mitochondrial health in neurons

Abstract

Our lab investigates how mRNA tethering to mitochondria regulates local protein synthesis and influences neuronal survival in health and disease. Mitochondria serve as critical translational hubs, yet the mechanisms governing mRNA localization to these organelles and how cellular stressors modulate this process are not fully elucidated. A central question driving our research is: why are certain neuronal subtypes selectively vulnerable to aging and neurodegeneration? We explore how cell-specific differences in mRNA transport and mitochondrial homeostasis contribute to this selective vulnerability, examining how distinct neuronal subtypes exhibit unique mitochondrial dynamics and stress responses.We are particularly interested in the role of local protein synthesis during axonal regeneration. Our work investigates how nuclear-encoded mRNAs are delivered via axonal mitochondria and how this localized translation influences regenerative capacity following injury. Using mitochondrial stress models, we examine how disruptions in these mechanisms contribute to neurodegenerative disease progression.