Subsynaptic Ribosomes

by Josef Spacek

Fig. 1: Ribosomes synthesize proteins (red) according to instruction translated from mRNA (yellow).

Fig. 2: Free polyribosomes (red arrow) and glycogen beta-particles (blue arrow) in a process of astrocyte (A). Cisterns of granular endoplasmic reticulum are present in the lower part of figure. (Rat, hippocampus, CA1)

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Fig. 5: A cluster of polyribosomes (arrow) in a neck of a thin spine (S). D - dendrite. (Rat, hippocampus, CA1) 

Fig. 6: Polyribosomes (arrow) at the base of a short, sessile spine. D - dendrite, ser - smooth endoplasmic reticulum. (Rat, hippocampus, CA1)

Fig. 7: Three-dimensional reconstruction of thin spines emerging from a dendrite (made transparent). Polyribosomes (black) are most frequent at the bases of spines. Areas of synaptic contact are shown in red. (Rat, hippocampus, CA1)

Fig. 8: Polyribosomes both free in the head of spine (S) and associated with endoplasmic reticulum (arrows) at the base of a dendritic spine. D - dendrite. (Rat, hippocampus, CA1)

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Fig. 10: Three-dimensional reconstruction of endoplasmic reticulum (yellow) of a dendrite and spine. The spine apparatus (SA) is connected by a narrow tubule with a cistern at the base of the spine, associated with this is a cluster of polyribosomes (black). A nearby mitochondrion is colored dark green. (Rat, hippocampus, CA1)

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