Axons, their growth cones, and synaptic nerve terminals are neuronal subcompartments that have high energetic needs. As such, they are enriched in mitochondria, which supply the ATP necessary to meet these demands. To date, a heterogeneous population of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNAs has been identified in distal axons and growth cones. Accumulating evidence suggests that the local translation of these mRNAs is required for mitochondrial maintenance and axonal viability. Here, we review evidence that suggests a critical role for axonal translation of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNAs in axonal growth and development. Additionally, we explore the role that site-specific translation at the mitochondria itself may play in this process. Finally, we briefly review the clinical implications of dysregulation of local translation of mitochondrial-related mRNAs in neurodevelopmental disorders.

轴突，它们的生长锥和突触神经末梢是具有高能量需求的神经元小室。因此，它们富含线粒体，线粒体提供了满足这些需求所必需的ATP。迄今为止，已在远端轴突和生长锥中鉴定出核编码的线粒体mRNA的异质群体。越来越多的证据表明，这些mRNA的局部翻译是线粒体维持和轴突活力所必需的。在这里，我们审查的证据表明，轴突生长和发展中的核编码线粒体mRNA的轴突翻译的关键作用。此外，我们探讨了线粒体本身的特定位点翻译在此过程中可能发挥的作用。最后，