Fragile X mental retardation protein targets G quartet mRNAs important for neuronal function
Date
2001
Authors
Darnell, J.
Jensen, K.
Jin, P.
Brown, V.
Warren, S.
Darnell, R.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Cell, 2001; 107(4):489-499
Statement of Responsibility
Jennifer C. Darnell, Kirk B. Jensen, Peng Jin, Victoria Brown, Stephen T. Warren and Robert B. Darnell
Conference Name
Abstract
Loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) function causes the fragile X mental retardation syndrome. FMRP harbors three RNA binding domains, associates with polysomes, and is thought to regulate mRNA translation and/or localization, but the RNAs to which it binds are unknown. We have used RNA selection to demonstrate that the FMRP RGG box binds intramolecular G quartets. This data allowed us to identify mRNAs encoding proteins involved in synaptic or developmental neurobiology that harbor FMRP binding elements. The majority of these mRNAs have an altered polysome association in fragile X patient cells. These data demonstrate that G quartets serve as physiologically relevant targets for FMRP and identify mRNAs whose dysregulation may underlie human mental retardation.