Figure 7.

Differential regulation of GluN2A surface expression by somatic and dendritic protein synthesis. GluN2A protein levels and surface expression within dendrites are regulated by both somatic and dendritic protein synthesis. (1) Under basal conditions, dendritic GluN2A levels are regulated by constitutive protein synthesis in the soma. Somatic GluN2A is trafficked into dendrites, likely in the form of post-Golgi vesicles, where it is either inserted in the membrane or held in reserve for subsequent regulation (blue arrows). The posttranscriptional mechanisms regulating somatic GluN2A synthesis remain unclear. (2) Following synaptic activation, intracellular signaling (dashed line) induces the local translation of GluN2A mRNA that is regulated by the CPEB-associated complex in dendrites, resulting in the dendritic synthesis and membrane insertion of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors, likely via components of a dendritic secretory pathway.