University of New Mexico, Department of Neurosciences reports research in Rett syndrome genetics
2007 AUG 14 -- Investigators publish new data in the report "Mecp2 deficiency leads to delayed maturation and altered gene expression in hippocampal neurons. It is well known that Rett Syndrome, a severe postnatal childhood neurological disorder, is mostly caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. However, how deficiencies in MeCP2 contribute to the neurological dysfunction of Rett Syndrome is not clear," scientists in the United States report. "We aimed to resolve the role of MeCP2 epigenetic regulation in postnatal brain development in an Mecp2-deficient mouse model. We found that, while Mecp2 was not critical for the production of immature neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, the newly generated neurons exhibited pronounced deficits in neuronal maturation, including delayed transition into a more mature stage, altered expression of presynaptic proteins and reduced dendritic spine density. Furthermore, analysis of gene expression profiles of isolated DG granule neurons revealed abnormal expression levels of a number of genes previously shown to be important for synaptogenesis," wrote R.D. Smrt and colleagues, University of New Mexico, Department of Neurosciences. The researchers concluded: "Our studies suggest that MeCP2 plays a central role in neuronal maturation, which might be mediated through epigenetic control of expression pathways that are instrumental in both dendritic development and synaptogenesis." Smrt and colleagues published their study in Neurobiology of Disease (Mecp2 deficiency leads to delayed maturation and altered gene expression in hippocampal neurons. Neurobiology of Disease, 2007;27(1):77-89). For additional information, contact R.D. Smrt, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Dept. of Neurosciences, Albuquerque, NM 87131 USA.. The publisher's contact information for the journal Neurobiology of Disease is: Academic Press Inc. Elsevier Science, 525 B St., Ste. 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA. Keywords: United States, Albuquerque, Rett Syndrome Genetics, Genetics, Neurobiology, Rett Syndrome, Rett's Syndrome. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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