News

ADHD more likely in certain fragile X premutation carriers: Study

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more common among female carriers of a fragile X premutation who have more cell-to-cell variation in the number of mutational CCG repeats in the premutation, a new study reveals. Indeed, according to researchers, “the degree of [genetic] instability (expansion) was significantly higher … in participants…

Highly-sensitive blood test may improve FXS prognosis

Researchers have developed a highly-sensitive test that can reliably detect trace activity levels of FMR1 — the faulty gene in fragile X syndrome (FXS) — in the blood of patients who’d been thought to have none by current methods. This was done through the measurement of FMR1’s messenger RNA…

Sound processing, behaviors linked in women with fragile X premutations

How the brain processes sound varies across three neuropsychiatric feature-based subgroups of women who carry so-called premutations in FMR1, the gene associated with fragile X syndrome, a pilot study showed. “Our findings suggest a spectrum of sensory processing characteristics present in subgroups of premutation carriers that have been previously understudied…

Mouse study links fragile X to abnormal protein degradation

A deficiency in the FMRP protein, the underlying cause of fragile X syndrome (FXS), may affect the system within nerve cells that breaks down unwanted proteins, a mouse study suggests. Data showed that FMRP, its related protein FXR1, and DLG4 gene’s messenger RNA (mRNA) are involved in this protein…

Gruber Prize goes to discovery of NMD

University of Rochester researcher Lynne E. Maquat, PhD, is co-recipient of this year’s Gruber Genetics Prize for her discovery of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a protein quality control system within cells. Maquat and her team subsequently discovered that this control system is in overdrive in cells of people with…