Signaling Cascade Discovered in Fruit Flies May Be Promising Target for FXS Therapy

Scientists have discovered a signaling cascade in fruit flies that may be a promising therapeutic target for treating fragile X syndrome in humans. The study with that finding, “Wnd/DLK Is a Critical Target of FMRP Responsible for Neurodevelopmental and Behavior Defects in the Drosophila Model of Fragile X Syndrome,”…

Hyper-Excited Neurons Disrupt Perception in Fragile X Syndrome, Fruit Fly Study Suggests

Mutations in the FMR1 gene — the underlying cause of fragile X syndrome — reduce the load of inhibitory signals in the brain, resulting in “noise” that halts the ability to perceive and discriminate cues from the outside world, a study of fruit flies suggests. The study, “Reduced Lateral Inhibition…

Therapeutics Targeting cAMP Signaling Can Help Improve Sensory Perception in Patients with Fragile X Syndrome

Medicine that regulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling can help correct defects in processing of sensory information in a fruit fly model of fragile X syndrome, a new study shows. The study, “Stress Odorant Sensory Response Dysfunction in Drosophila Fragile X Syndrome Mutants,” was published in the journal Frontiers in…