Large expansions (>200 CGG repeats; full mutation) of a CGG-repeat in the FMR1 gene cause the leading heritable form of intellectual disability (fragile X syndrome) and are associated with the leading known single- gene form of autism. Smaller expansions (55-200 CGG repeats; premutation) give rise to one of the most common known single-gene neurodegenerative disorders, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), and also result in the leading single-gene form of primary ovarian failure. Therefore, the consequences of CGG-repeat expansions are of great societal impact, with over one-hundred thousand individuals in the United States affected by one or more of the fragile X-associated disorders. In both premutation and full-mutation disorders, disease pathogenesis is due to altered levels of expression - reduced/absent protein for fragile X syndrome and elevated mRNA for FXTAS. In the proposed research, we will exploit a novel method for single-molecule genomic (SMRT) sequencing, coupled with the generation of single-allele fibroblast sub-clones, to determine at the sequence-level the CGG-repeat lengths and complexity (i.e., size mosaicism) of expanded CGG-repeat FMR1 alleles (Specific Aim 1) and to define the dependence of FMR1 protein (FMRP) levels on CGG-repeat length and to identify at least some of the factors that control FMRP expression (Specific Aim 2). In addition, we will further define the basis for increased mRNA levels for FMR1 alleles within the premutation range (Specific Aim 3), and will exploit our earlier observation that the start of transcription shifts upstream as the CGG-repeat expands, with much of the excess mRNA being produced by the additional, upstream initiator. We hypothesize that targeting the region of the mRNA between the normal and upstream initiators will effectively lower mRNA levels toward the normal range, without excess reduction. This proposal, representing another potential therapeutic approach to FXTAS, will be evaluated as part of Specific Aim 3.

Public Health Relevance

Expansions of a CGG-repeat in the FMR1 gene cause the leading heritable form of intellectual disability (fragile X syndrome) and are associated with the leading known single-gene form of autism. Smaller expansions give rise to the neurodegenerative disorder, FXTAS. In the proposed research, we propose to identify the origins of altered expression of the gene (low protein, fragile X syndrome; elevated RNA, FXTAS) to facilitate the development of targeted therapeutic approaches to these disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD040661-13
Application #
8860213
Study Section
Developmental Brain Disorders Study Section (DBD)
Program Officer
Urv, Tiina K
Project Start
2002-04-01
Project End
2016-12-31
Budget Start
2015-01-01
Budget End
2015-12-31
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$282,542
Indirect Cost
$95,792
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047120084
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Martínez-Cerdeño, Verónica; Lechpammer, Mirna; Hagerman, Paul J et al. (2017) Two FMR1 premutation cases without nuclear inclusions. Mov Disord 32:1328-1329
Jiraanont, Poonnada; Kumar, Madhur; Tang, Hiu-Tung et al. (2017) Size and methylation mosaicism in males with Fragile X syndrome. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 17:1023-1032
Martínez-Cerdeño, Verónica; Lechpammer, Mirna; Noctor, Stephen et al. (2017) FMR1 premutation with Prader-Willi phenotype and fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Clin Case Rep 5:625-629
Ariza, Jeanelle; Rogers, Hailee; Hartvigsen, Anna et al. (2017) Iron accumulation and dysregulation in the putamen in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Mov Disord 32:585-591
Lechpammer, Mirna; Martínez Cerde?o, Verónica; Hunsaker, Michael Ryan et al. (2017) Concomitant occurrence of FXTAS and clinically defined sporadic inclusion body myositis: report of two cases. Croat Med J 58:310-315
Rogers, Hailee; Ariza, Jeanelle; Monterrubio, Angela et al. (2016) Cerebellar Mild Iron Accumulation in a Subset of FMR1 Premutation Carriers with FXTAS. Cerebellum 15:641-4
Kashima, Risa; Roy, Sougata; Ascano, Manuel et al. (2016) Augmented noncanonical BMP type II receptor signaling mediates the synaptic abnormality of fragile X syndrome. Sci Signal 9:ra58
Napoli, Eleonora; Song, Gyu; Wong, Sarah et al. (2016) Altered Bioenergetics in Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Adult Carriers of the FMR1 Premutation Before the Onset of the Neurodegenerative Disease Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome. Cerebellum 15:552-64
Hagerman, Paul J; Hagerman, Randi J (2015) Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1338:58-70
Martínez-Cerdeño, Verónica; Lechpammer, Mirna; Lott, Aisha et al. (2015) Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome in a Man in His 30s. JAMA Neurol 72:1070-3

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