TY - JOUR T1 - Axonal Localization of Transgene mRNA in Mature PNS and CNS Neurons JF - The Journal of Neuroscience JO - J. Neurosci. SP - 14481 LP - 14487 DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2950-11.2011 VL - 31 IS - 41 AU - Dianna E. Willis AU - Mei Xu AU - Christopher J. Donnelly AU - Chhavy Tep AU - Marvin Kendall AU - Marina Erenstheyn AU - Arthur W. English AU - N. Carolyn Schanen AU - Catherine B. Kirn-Safran AU - Sung Ok Yoon AU - Gary J. Bassell AU - Jeffery L. Twiss Y1 - 2011/10/12 UR - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/31/41/14481.abstract N2 - Axonal mRNA transport is robust in cultured neurons but there has been limited evidence for this in vivo. We have used a genetic approach to test for in vivo axonal transport of reporter mRNAs. We show that β-actin's 3′-UTR can drive axonal localization of GFP mRNA in mature DRG neurons, but mice with γ-actin's 3′-UTR show no axonal GFP mRNA. Peripheral axotomy triggers transport of the β-actin 3′-UTR containing transgene mRNA into axons. This GFP-3′-β-actin mRNA accumulates in injured PNS axons before activation of the transgene promoter peaks in the DRG. Spinal cord injury also increases axonal GFP signals in mice carrying this transgene without any increase in transgene expression in the DRGs. These data show for the first time that the β-actin 3′-UTR is sufficient for axonal localization in both PNS and CNS neurons in vivo. ER -