Pumilio RNA-binding proteins regulate synapse density

Pumilio RNA-binding proteins regulate the translation and localization of many synaptic mRNAs and are developmentally downregulated in the brain. 

The researchers report that the simultaneous downregulation of Pumilio 1 and 2 promotes synapse maturation and increases the density of excitatory and inhibitory synapses.

The authors show that loss of Pum1 and Pum2 in the mouse brain was associated with an increase in mRNAs involved in mitochondrial function and synaptic translation.

Thus, the regulation of Pumilio protein levels represents a cell-intrinsic mechanism for the modulation of synapse maturation.

https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(24)01098-2

https://sciencemission.com/Regulation-of-synapse-density-by-Pumilio-RNA--binding-proteins