Maquat, Lynne

Repurposing Drugs to Dampen Hyperactive Nonsense-Mediated Decay in Fragile X Syndrome

FRAXA Research Foundation 2015 Grants • 2016 Grants • Completed Research Grants • Disease Mechanisms • Drug Repurposing • Kurosaki, Tatsuaki • Maquat, Lynne • Treatment Targets • University of Rochester September 8, 2016May 15, 2020Boston Bruins Foundation, mRNAs, NIH

With a $90,000 grant from the FRAXA Research Foundation, Dr. Lynne Maquat and Dr. Tatsuaki Kurosaki will investigate nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in Fragile X. NMD is a “housekeeping” process that cells use to prevent faulty proteins from being made. But there is too much of it in Fragile X syndrome. There are already available drugs that suppress NMD – including caffeine.