University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Elucidating the Role of the Fragile-X Mental Retardation Protein in the Central Nervous System

Irwin, Scott Alan

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Description

Title
Elucidating the Role of the Fragile-X Mental Retardation Protein in the Central Nervous System
Author(s)
Irwin, Scott Alan
Issue Date
2000
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Greenough, William T.
Department of Study
Neuroscience
Discipline
Neuroscience
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Health Sciences, Human Development
Language
eng
Abstract
The discovery that proteins are synthesized at synapses, away from somata where most proteins are made, is fairly recent, and only a couple of proteins are currently known to be made near synapses; none have been shown to be made in response to changes in the synaptic environment. Proteins made in response to afferent activity at synapses are likely candidates to be involved with the plasticity (functional, structural, or both) of synapses, as afferent activation is largely responsible for the postnatal organization of the nervous system. In attempts to discern which proteins are made at synapses specifically for involvement in synaptic plasticity, it was discovered that fmr -1 mRNA, a product of the FMR-1 gene, associates rapidly with protein synthesis machinery in response to neurotransmitter stimulation in an in vitro synaptoneurosome preparation. This suggested that the Fragile-X Mental Retardation Protein, the product of fmr-1 mRNA, is synthesized at synapses in response to afferent activation and is possibly involved in synaptic plasticity. The following studies attempt to further link the expression/function of this protein with synaptic plasticity processes.
Graduation Semester
2000
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/82543

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