Chapter 8 - FMRP and the Pathophysiology of Fragile X Syndrome

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Abstract

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a single-gene disorder that is the most prevalent heritable cause of intellectual disability and one of the most common single-gene causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although there is a clear genetic origin of FXS, there is still much to learn about the cellular and physiological consequences of FMR1 mutation. This knowledge is critical to the development of treatments to target the core pathophysiology of FXS. In this chapter, we summarize what is known about the function of the FMR1 gene and the encoded Fragile X mental retardation protein and describe the major cellular and neurophysiological phenotypes observed in the FXS mouse model. We then discuss evidence supporting the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) theory of Fragile X, which states that dysregulated protein synthesis downstream of mGluR1/5 is a core contributor to the pathogenesis of FXS. The remainder of the chapter will be devoted to discussing the clinical implications of this research and its relevance to the wider ASD population.

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