Figure 1.

The ‘differential translation’ model for local translation in growth cones. (a) A gradient of attractive guidance cue, such as netrin-1, induces asymmetrical activation of translation and transport of mRNAs, causing asymmetrical translation of proteins that build up the cytoskeleton, which leads to attractive turning. (b) A gradient of repulsive guidance cue, such as Slit-2, induces similar asymmetrical activation of translation but induces transport and translation of different mRNAs, causing asymmetrical translation of proteins that disassemble the cytoskeleton, which leads to repulsive turning.