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

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Neuroscience

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Irwin, Scott Alan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Greenough, William T.

• Health Sciences, Human Development

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9971102

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/82543