Internal initiation of translation of the TrkB mRNA is mediated by multiple regions within the 5′ leader

Translational regulation of the dendritically localized mRNA encoding for the neurotrophin receptor TrkB has important ramifications for synaptic function. We examined whether the TrkB mRNA is translated through an internal initiation entry site (IRES). The human TrkB 50 leaders are derived from the use of alternative promoters and alternative splicing, but all 50 leaders share a common exon. Insertion of a full-length 50 leader, as well as the common exon into the intercistronic region of a dicistronic luciferase construct, yielded luciferase activity generated from these condcistron that was either equivalent or higher than that observed from the encephalomyocarditis virus IRES. Moreover, inhibiting cap-dependent translation ex vivo and in in vitro lysates had only a minimal effect on the translation of mRNA containing the TrkB 50 leader. Dissecting the 50 leader showed that the IRES is located in the exon common to all TrkB 50 leaders. Moreover, six regions ranging from 2 to 25 nt were identified that either promoted or inhibited IRES activity. Taken together, these results suggest that the 50 leader of the human TrkB mRNA contains multiple cis-elements that regulate internal initiation of translation and that this mechanism may contribute significantly to the translation of the TrkB mRNA in neuronal dendrites.