{"id":6826,"date":"2023-08-07T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/?p=6826"},"modified":"2023-07-28T02:53:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T02:53:33","slug":"fragile-x-syndrome-often-results-from-improperly-processed-genetic-material-correctly-cutting-rna-offers-a-potential-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/fragile-x-syndrome-often-results-from-improperly-processed-genetic-material-correctly-cutting-rna-offers-a-potential-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Fragile X syndrome often results from improperly processed genetic material \u2013 correctly cutting RNA offers a potential treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n For many people with fragile X, the mutated gene that causes symptoms is active rather than silenced.\n Thom Leach\/Science Photo Library<\/a><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\nJoel Richter<\/a>, UMass Chan Medical School<\/a><\/em> and Sneha Shah<\/a>, UMass Chan Medical School<\/a><\/em><\/span>\n\n

Fragile X syndrome<\/a> is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in a gene that lies at the tip of the X chromosome. It is linked to autism spectrum disorders. People with fragile X experience a range of symptoms that include cognitive impairment, developmental and speech delays and hyperactivity. They may also have some physical features such as large ears and foreheads, flabby muscles and poor coordination.<\/p>\n\n

Along with our colleagues Jonathan Watts<\/a> and Elizabeth Berry-Kravis<\/a>, we are<\/a> a team<\/a> of scientists with expertise in molecular biology, nucleic acid chemistry and pediatric neurology. We recently discovered that the mutated gene responsible for fragile X syndrome is active in most people with the disorder, not silenced as previously thought. But the affected gene on the X chromosome is still unable to produce the protein it codes for because the genetic material isn\u2019t properly processed<\/a>. Correcting this processing error suggests that a potential treatment for symptoms of fragile X may one day be available.<\/p>\n\n

Repairing faulty RNA splicing<\/h2>\n\n

The FMR1 gene encodes a protein<\/a> that regulates protein synthesis. A lack of this protein leads to overall excessive protein synthesis in the brain that results in many of the symptoms of fragile X. <\/p>\n\n

The mutation that causes fragile X results in extra copies of a DNA sequence called a CGG repeat<\/a>. Everyone has CGG repeats in their FMR1 gene, but typically fewer than 55 copies. Having 200 or more CGG repeats silences the FMR1 gene and results in fragile X syndrome. However, we found that around 70% of people<\/a> with fragile X still have an active FMR1 gene their cellular machinery can read. But it is mutated enough that it is unable to direct the cell to produce the protein it encodes.<\/p>\n\n

Genes are transcribed into another form of genetic material called RNA that cells use to make proteins. Normally, genes are processed before transcription in order to make a readable strand of RNA. This involves removing the noncoding sequences<\/a> that interrupt genes and splicing the genetic material back together. For people with fragile X, the cellular machinery that does this cutting incorrectly splices the genetic material, such that the protein the FMR1 gene codes for is not produced.<\/p>\n\n

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