Fen-Biao Gao, PhD
Principal Investigator
Fay Wang, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of California at San Francisco
FRAXA
Awards:
$50,000 in
2006
$55,000 in
2005
Since FMRP, the Fragile X protein, is
an RNA-binding protein, it is widely assumed that symptoms of
Fragile X occur because of an alteration in the handling
(transport and translation) of various messenger RNAs.
Previous studies have shed much light on which mRNAs are
'handled' by FMRP, but these have not been definitive by any
means. Dr. Gao’s group aims to add to our knowledge of the
targets of FMRP by adding a functional assay: locomotion
(wandering in response to external stimuli). Using drosophila
as his model system, he will look for the mRNAs which interact
with the fly version of FMRP and which can alter locomotor
function when mutated. Since fly genes and mRNAs correspond
quite precisely to human genes and mRNAs, this investigation
will provide a working model to study the cause of the
heightened sensitivity that Fragile X patients display toward
touch, light and sound.