This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.This is a two-year fellowship from the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation to define the involvement of a gene termed FXYD1 in the neuropathology of Rett syndrome (RTT). RTT is a disorder of brain development that becomes clinically evident 8-18 months after birth. Most RTT patients carry a defective gene called MECP2. This gene encodes a protein that normally 'silences' other genes. Identification of these genes is important, as it may allow researchers to devise therapeutic strategies to treat the disease. Dr. Matagne's studies showed that the brains of RTT patients, and that of mice lacking MeCP2, express more of the FXYD1 gene, which encodes a protein that regulates cell excitability. The FXYD1 gene is repressed by MeCP2 in some brain regions, but not others; in the absence of MeCP2 the FXYD1 gene is activated resulting in loss of a cell membrane-bound enzyme activity essential for brain cells to recover after responding to other neurons. Brain neurons overproducing FXYD1 show morphological abnormalities similar to those of RTT patients, further suggesting that an excess of FXYD1 contributes to the neuropathology of RTT. This fellowship funds Dr. Matagne's salary for her to test this hypothesis using mice that are deficient in MePC2, but are unable to produce FXYD1. Dr. Matagne is determining if any of the behavioral, electrophysiological or morphological abnormalities displayed by animals lacking MeCP2 are ameliorated by genetically preventing the FXYD1 response to MeCP2 deficiency. In addition, she is performing experiments to define the molecular mechanisms by which MeCP2 regulates expression of the Fxyd1 gene in a brain region-specific manner.
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