Protein Synthesis in Living Neurons: Seeing Is Believing

During the last two decades, neuroscientists have been
building the argument, buttressed by data from many
experiments, that dendrites -- the fine fibers that
extend from neurons -- can synthesize proteins. If
dendrites can synthesize proteins, they may also have
the capacity to modulate the strength of connections
between neurons and ultimately influence neural activities,
including learning and memory.

HHMI researchers have developed a new technique that has
allowed them to see protein synthesis occurring in intact
dendrites.

Research published in the May 25, 2001, issue of the
journal Neuron.

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http://www.hhmi.org/news/schuman.html

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