Synaptic plasticity, the ability of synapses to change their chemical and molecular components, structure, and connection strength, is a fundamental feature of neural network architecture and brain function. At the center of activity-induced synaptic alteration, protein synthesis and lipid delivery plays a key role in consolidating neuronal activity into persistent structural and functional change. Aberrant mRNA translation at synapses and in growth cones has been linked to autism, fragile X syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, identifying dysregulated local translation as a core pathophysiological mechanism in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disease. Abnormal lipid homeostasis is also linked to many neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s diseases.

This symposium will focus on recent advances in understanding activity-dependent modulation of RNA dynamics in synaptic plasticity and cognitive function as well as non-vesicular lipid transport that occurs at membrane contact sites. Key regulators of gene expression such as microRNAs (Liu, Tzu Chi University, Taiwan), RNA-binding proteins (Lai, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong), chemical modifications (Wang, Kyoto University, Japan), local mRNA translation (Jung, Yonsei University, Korea), and evolutionarily conserved tethers of endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact sites (Saheki, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) will be focused. Their contribution to the stereotypy and flexibility of gene expression and intracellular lipid transport in central nervous system will be discussed in this symposium.