Balance of Synapse Maintenance in Health and Illness

Disruptions in synaptic proteostasis are commonly associated with various neurological disorders.

• Neurons maintain cellular homeostasis through a process called proteostasis, which involves the coordination of protein synthesis and degradation.
• Regulation of proteostasis is particularly crucial at neuronal synapses, which are far from the cell body and require quick adjustments to their protein content.
• Localized transport and translation of mRNA, along with specific protein degradation pathways, help neurons meet the demands of synaptic proteostasis.
• Thousands of RNA transcripts can localize to distant parts of neurons, influenced by factors like RNA stability and transport mechanisms.
• Key processes such as synaptic autophagy and endolysosomal trafficking are essential for maintaining synaptic structure and effective neurotransmission.
• Dysregulation of these processes is linked to several neurological disorders, including fragile X syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

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