Abstract

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) results in intellectual disability (ID) most often caused by silencing of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. The resulting absence of fragile X mental retardation protein 1 (FMRP) leads to both pre- and postsynaptic defects, yet whether the pre- and postsynaptic functions of FMRP are independent and have distinct roles in FXS neuropathology remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate an independent presynaptic function for FMRP through the study of an ID patient with an FMR1 missense mutation. This mutation, c.413G > A (R138Q), preserves FMRP's canonical functions in RNA binding and translational regulation, which are traditionally associated with postsynaptic compartments. However, neuronally driven expression of the mutant FMRP is unable to rescue structural defects at the neuromuscular junction in fragile x mental retardation 1 (dfmr1)-deficient Drosophila, suggesting a presynaptic-specific impairment. Furthermore, mutant FMRP loses the ability to rescue presynaptic action potential (AP) broadening in Fmr1 KO mice. The R138Q mutation also disrupts FMRP's interactionwith the large-conductance calciumactivated potassium (BK) channels that modulate AP width. These results reveal a presynaptic- and translation-independent function of FMRP that is linked to a specific subset of FXS phenotypes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)949-956
Number of pages8
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume112
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 27 2015

Keywords

  • Bk channels
  • FMRP
  • Fmr1 sequencing
  • Fragile X syndrome
  • Missense mutation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Independent role for presynaptic FMRP revealed by an FMR1 missense mutation associated with intellectual disability and seizures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this