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Fragile X mental retardation: Misregulation of protein synthesis in the developing brain?
Author(s) -
Feng Yue
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10063
Subject(s) - fragile x syndrome , polysome , ribonucleoprotein , fragile x , protein biosynthesis , translation (biology) , biology , messenger rnp , messenger rna , rna binding protein , translational regulation , neuroscience , rna , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , ribosome , gene
Fragile X mental retardation results from the absence of a selective RNA‐binding protein, FMRP. Previous studies demonstrated that FMRP forms messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes to associate with translating polyribosomes, suggesting that FMRP is involved in regulating protein synthesis. We are now facing the changing questions: How does FMRP influence protein synthesis in the brain? What is the target for FMRP in learning and memory? How does the absence of FMRP cause misregulation of protein synthesis, which in turn leads to mental impairment in fragile X syndrome? Models for abnormal neuronal function as a result of misregulated translation due to the absence of FMRP are discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 57:145–147, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.