Oostra, Ben Archives

Understanding the Mechanism of mGluR5 in Fragile X Mouse Models

FRAXA Research Foundation February 26, 2009August 5, 2021

Drs. Oostra, Warren, and Nelson discovered the Fragile X gene and its FRAXA mutation in 1991.

With $184,000 in funding from FRAXA Research Foundation from 1996-2005, Dr. Ben Oostra and his team at Erasmus University have done multiple studies related to Fragile X syndrome. This lab created the first Fragile X mouse models and went on to perform many critical studies in Fragile X mouse models. Results published.

The miRNA Pathway in Fragile X Syndrome

FRAXA Research Foundation February 5, 2009October 10, 2019

With a $120,000 grant from FRAXA Research Foundation over 2008-2009, Drs. Oostra and deVrij at Erasmus University studied miRNA and Fragile X. miRNAs are RNAs that can repress the translation of target mRNAs – therefore they can play a role in protein synthesis within the neuron. Preliminary results showed large differences in miRNA expression in the Fragile X mouse brain compared to the wild type. This lab investigated the effect of mGluR5 antagonists on the levels of these specific miRNAs.