Fragile X Syndrome

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Kathryn Garber, Emory University; Jeannie Visootsak, Emory University; Stephen Warren, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2008
• Publisher: Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]: Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2008 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: European Journal of Human Genetics
• ISSN: 1018-4813
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 666
• End Page: 672
• Research Categories: Biology, Genetics

Abstract

Fragile X syndrome, an X-linked dominant disorder with reduced penetrance, is associated with intellectual and emotional disabilities ranging from learning problems to mental retardation, and mood instability to autism. It is most often caused by the transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene, due to an expansion of a CGG repeat found in the 5′-untranslated region. The FMR1 gene product, FMRP, is a selective RNA-binding protein that negatively regulates local protein synthesis in neuronal dendrites. In its absence, the transcripts normally regulated by FMRP are over translated. The resulting over abundance of certain proteins results in reduced synaptic strength due to AMPA receptor trafficking abnormalities that lead, at least in part, to the fragile X phenotype.