BREACHing new grounds in fragile X syndrome: Trinucleotide expansion linked to genome-wide heterochromatin domains and genome misfolding

Mol Cell. 2024 Feb 1;84(3):413-414. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.12.042.

Abstract

In a recent study in Cell, Malachowski et al.1 show that the trinucleotide expansion in the FMR1 gene underlying fragile X syndrome triggers formation of large heterochromatin domains across the genome, resulting in the repression of synaptic genes housed within these domains.

MeSH terms

  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / genetics
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein / metabolism
  • Fragile X Syndrome* / genetics
  • Heterochromatin / genetics
  • Humans
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion / genetics
  • Trinucleotide Repeats / genetics

Substances

  • Heterochromatin
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • FMR1 protein, human