Research Symposium

BIO

Hello my name is Roneesha Peltier and my research is on FMRP regulation in total protein synthesis with a focus in synaptic proteins. I like to do research on the brain and immunology. I also love to hike and explore nature. I also like to travel to exotic places and try new things.

Age- and Region- Dependent FMRP Regulation of Protein Synthesis in Central Nervous System

Abstract

Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is a RNA-binding protein, which selectively regulates the translation of a series of mRNAs. Loss of FMRP, caused by the transcriptional silencing of FMR1 gene, leads to fragile x syndrome (FXS), a leading inherited form of intellectual disability and autism. But it is unclear how FMRP regulates the protein synthesis across different ages. In our study, we are examining how FMRP regulates the total protein synthesis and the expression of specifically synaptic proteins in multiple brain regions across different ages.

To address these questions, we compared the brain protein synthesis between wild type (WT) and Fmr1 KO mice at different ages. In vivo protein synthesis was detected by injecting puromycin into mouse body, which then labels newly synthesized peptides. Puromycin signal was quantified by western blotting in two brain areas (neocortex and brainstem) at two ages, postnatal day 10 (P10) and young adult (2 months or P60). As a result, at P10, Fmr1 KO mice showed significantly lower puromycin signal compared to WT mice in the cortex. But at P60, Fmr1 KO mice showed significantly higher puromycin signal than that in WT group in both cortex and brainstem. These results suggest a region-specific and age-specific role of FMRP in regulating protein synthesis. In the next step, we will continue to the underlying mechanisms by examining the pathways that involves in protein synthesis. Furthermore, we will examine how FMRP regulates the expression of specific synaptic proteins at different ages

Keywords: FMRP, brain, biomedical