Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Dissecting Cell-Autonomous Function of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in an Auditory Circuit by In Ovo Electroporation
11:10

Dissecting Cell-Autonomous Function of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in an Auditory Circuit by In Ovo Electroporation

Published on: July 6, 2022

2.6K

Hypothesis: a role for fragile X mental retardation protein in mediating and relieving microRNA-guided translational

Isabelle Plante1, Patrick Provost

  • 1Centre de Recherche en Rhumatologie et Immunologie, Centre de Recherche du CHUL (CHUQ), Laurier, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada.

Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology
|October 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) may facilitate microRNA (miRNA)-guided gene silencing by assembling miRNA-ribonucleoprotein complexes on messenger RNAs (mRNAs). FMRP might also regulate translation by swapping miRNA strands, potentially explaining fragile X syndrome defects.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • MicroRNA (miRNA)-mediated translational repression is crucial for gene regulation.
  • Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is implicated in RNA silencing and has nucleic acid chaperone properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a model for FMRP's role in miRNA-guided mRNA targeting and repression.
  • To elucidate FMRP's function in the assembly and regulation of miRNA-ribonucleoprotein (miRNP) complexes.

Main Methods:

  • The study proposes a theoretical model based on existing literature and experimental findings.
  • Involves understanding FMRP's nucleic acid chaperone activity and its interaction with miRNA complexes.

Main Results:

  • FMRP may facilitate miRNA assembly on target mRNAs via G-quadruplex recognition.
  • FMRP could mediate mRNA targeting through strand exchange within miRNP complexes.
  • FMRP may relieve miRNA repression via a reverse strand exchange, enabling translation.

Conclusions:

  • FMRP plays a multifaceted role in miRNA-mediated gene regulation.
  • Dysfunctional FMRP and suboptimal miRNA utilization may contribute to fragile X syndrome pathogenesis.

More Related Videos

A Robust Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Assay for Quantifying Cytosine-guanine-guanine Trinucleotide Repeats in Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 Gene08:22

A Robust Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Assay for Quantifying Cytosine-guanine-guanine Trinucleotide Repeats in Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 Gene

Published on: September 16, 2019

8.3K
Analysis of Translation Initiation During Stress Conditions by Polysome Profiling10:59

Analysis of Translation Initiation During Stress Conditions by Polysome Profiling

Published on: May 19, 2014

18.7K

Related Concept Videos

Translational Regulation01:29

Translational Regulation

Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...
453
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
3.6K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
23.7K
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps01:23

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the...
1.3K
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps02:24

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
25.5K
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression02:51

mRNA Stability and Gene Expression

The structure and stability of mRNA molecules regulates gene expression, as mRNAs are a key step in the pathway from gene to protein. In eukaryotes, the half-life of mRNA varies from a few minutes up to several days. mRNA stability is essential in growth and development. The absence of the proteins regulating its stability, such as tristetraprolin in mice, can cause systemic issues, including bone marrow overgrowth, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
6.4K