Transcriptional and translational dynamics of light neurofilament subunit RNAs during Xenopus laevis optic nerve regeneration.

Neurofilaments (NFs), which comprise one of three cytoskeletal polymers of vertebrate axons, are heteropolymers of multiple NF subunit proteins. During Xenopus laevis optic nerve regeneration, NF subunit composition undergoes progressive changes that correlate with regenerative success. Understanding the relative contributions of transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulatory mechanisms to these changes should therefore provide insights into the control of the axonal growth program.