CBM Seminar Series – Local mRNA Translation in Axons Sustains Neurotransmission

The College of Biomedicine was pleased to host Professor Hovy Wong from the School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, as a distinguished speaker in the CBM Seminar Series on 2 February 2026. Professor Wong’s work has changed the way the field understands the existence of mRNA translation in the axon and presynapse—the neurotransmitter‑releasing half of neuronal connections.

In his talk entitled “Local mRNA Translation in Axons Sustains Neurotransmission”, Professor Wong challenged the long-standing view that protein synthesis relevant to memory formation occurs exclusively in the neuronal cell body. He highlighted recent omics studies revealing the presence of hundreds of mRNAs in axons, suggesting an important and previously underappreciated role for local protein synthesis in neural function.

Drawing on his recent research, Professor Wong described how burst neurotransmission depends on protein synthesis linked to NMDA receptors and mTOR signaling. Using advanced approaches including quadruple whole-cell recordings, two-photon laser microsurgery, and live imaging of nascent proteins, his work localized active protein synthesis to axons. He further demonstrated that axonal mRNA translation selectively enhances neurotransmission onto excitatory, but not inhibitory, neurons, indicating synapse-type-specific regulation.

Professor Wong also discussed the broader implications of his findings for understanding information transfer, memory formation, and neurological disorders. He emphasized that targeting local axonal translation mechanisms may open new therapeutic avenues for neuropathologies such as autism and Alzheimer’s disease. The seminar stimulated active discussion and highlighted the importance of re-examining fundamental assumptions in neuroscience.