title: The fragile X syndrome: exploring its molecular basis and seeking a treatment.
abstract: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) - the leading cause of inherited mental retardation - is an X-linked disease caused by loss of expression of the FMR1 (fragile X mental retardation 1) gene. In addition to impairment of higher-cognitive functions, FXS patients show a variety of physical and other mental abnormalities. FMRP, the protein encoded by the FMR1 gene, is thought to play a key role in translation, trafficking and targeting of mRNA in neurons. To better understand FMRP's functions, the protein partners and mRNA targets that interact with FMRP have been sought. These and functional studies have revealed links with processes such as cytoskeleton remodelling via the RhoGTPase pathway and mRNA processing via the RNA interference pathway. In this review, we focus on recent insights into the function of FMRP and speculate on how the absence of FMRP might cause the clinical phenotypes seen in FXS patients. Finally, we explore potential therapies for FXS.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, UMR 6543, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Av. de Valombrose, Université de Nice, O6107 Nice, France. bardoni@unice.fr
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bardoni
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davidovic
authors.forename: Mounia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bensaid
authors.forename: Edouard W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Khandjian
mesh_terms: D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; C497683:FMR1 protein, human