What is the mechanism of axonal transport?

Axonal transport is a physiological process that involves the transfer of material between the neuronal cell body or soma and the axonal terminal of neurons. There are two types of axonal transport – anterograde and retrograde axonal transport. They are differentiated by the direction of material flow. 

• Anterograde axonal transport transfers materials from the neuronal cell body or soma to distal axon terminals. Their main cargo is made up of newly synthesized proteins and lipids, including synaptic components that are vital for maintaining presynaptic activity. 
• Retrograde axonal transport transfers survival signals from distal axon terminals to the neuronal cell body, where they stimulate the synthesis of essential proteins that the nerves need to function efficiently. Retrograde axonal transport also eliminates dysfunctional and aging proteins and organelles from the distal axon and transfers them to be recycled or degraded.