BIBLIOGRAPHIC  PRACTICUM
Biology 2001,  Fall  2004  

Assignment #3 Selection for Annotation

Group # 1

Abstract: Fragile X syndrome is caused by the absence of the fragile X 
mental retardation protein (FMRP). This RNA-binding protein is widely 
expressed in human and mouse tissues, and it is particularly abundant in 
the brain because of its high expression in neurons, where it localizes in 
the cell body and in granules throughout dendrites. Although FMRP is 
thought to regulate trafficking of repressed mRNA complexes and to 
influence local protein synthesis in synapses, it is not known whether it 
has additional functions in the control of translation in the cell body. 
Here, we have used recently developed approaches to investigate whether 
FMRP is associated with the translation apparatus. We demonstrate that, in 
the brain, FMRP is present in actively translating polyribosomes, and we 
show that this association is acutely sensitive to the type of detergent 
required to release polyribosomes from membranous structures. In addition, 
proteomic analyses of purified brain polyribosomes reveal the presence of 
several RNA-binding proteins that, similarly to FMRP, have been previously 
localized in neuronal granules. Our findings highlight the complex roles 
of FMRP both in actively translating polyribosomes and in repressed 
trafficking ribonucleoparticle granules.

Author(s): Khandjian EW ; Huot ME ; Tremblay S ; Davidovic L ; Mazroui R ; 
Bardoni B 
Affiliation: Unité de Recherche en Génétique Humaine et Moléculaire, 
Centre de Recherche Hôpital Saint-François d'Assise, Centre Hospitalier 
Universitaire de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada G1L 3L5. 
Title: Biochemical evidence for the association of fragile X mental 
retardation protein with brain polyribosomal ribonucleoparticles. 
Source: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Proceedings of the National Academy of 
Sciences of the United States of America.) 2004 Sep 7; 101(36): 13357-62 

For general information see:[type in your 'disease/syndrome']

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disease/