Image of the Day: Fragile Brain

In Fragile X syndrome—a genetic mishap that results in cognitive delays—the lack of a translation-repressing protein leads to the rampant accumulation of other proteins in the mouse brain.


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The protein Brd4 (green) is present in abnormally high amounts in the brain of a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome. E. KORB ET AL., CELL, 170:1209-23, 2017.In Fragile X syndrome, an inherited disease characterized by learning delays, a protein that normally represses translation is lost. By inhibiting another protein called Brd4—normally controlled by the missing repressor of translation— scientists were able to assuage symptoms of the disease in mice.

See E. Korb et al., “Excess translation of epigenetic regulators contributes to Fragile X syndrome and is alleviated by Brd4 inhibition,” Cell, 170:1209-23, 2017.

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