Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic form of intellectual disability in males, is caused by silencing of the FMR1 gene associated with hypermethylation of the CGG expansion mutation in the 5' UTR of FMR1 in FXS patients. Here, we applied recently developed DNA methylation editing tools to reverse this hypermethylation event. Targeted demethylation of the CGG expansion by dCas9-Tet1/single guide RNA (sgRNA) switched the heterochromatin status of the upstream FMR1 promoter to an active chromatin state, restoring a persistent expression of FMR1 in FXS iPSCs. Neurons derived from methylation-edited FXS iPSCs rescued the electrophysiological abnormalities and restored a wild-type phenotype upon the mutant neurons. FMR1 expression in edited neurons was maintained in vivo after engrafting into the mouse brain. Finally, demethylation of the CGG repeats in post-mitotic FXS neurons also reactivated FMR1. Our data establish that demethylation of the CGG expansion is sufficient for FMR1 reactivation, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies for FXS.
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic form of intellectual disability in male, is caused by silencing of the FMR1 gene by hypermethylation of the CGG expansion mutation in the 5’UTR region of FMR1 in FXS patients. Here, we applied recently developed DNA methylation editing tools to reverse this hypermethylation event. Targeted demethylation of the CGG expansion by dCas9-Tet1/sgRNA switched the heterochromatin status of the upstream FMR1 promoter to an active chromatin state restoring a persistent expression of FMR1 in FXS iPSCs. Neurons derived from methylation edited FXS iPSCs rescued the electrophysiological abnormalities and restored a wild-type phenotype upon the mutant neurons. FMR1 expression in edited neurons was maintained in vivo after engrafting into the mouse brain. Finally, demethylation of the CGG repeats in post-mitotic FXS neurons also reactivated FMR1. Our data establish demethylation of the CGG expansion is sufficient for FMR1 reactivation, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies for FXS.
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic form of intellectual disability in male, is caused by the silence of FMR1. Hypermethylation of the CGG expansion mutation in the 5’UTR region of FMR1 in FXS patients was thought to epigenetically silence FMR1. Here, we applied our previously developed DNA methylation editing tool to reverse this hypermethylation event. Targeted demethylation of the CGG expansion by dCas9-Tet1/gRNA switched the heterochromatin status of the FMR1 promoter to an active chromatin status and subsequently restored FMR1 expression in FXS iPSCs. Neurons derived from methylation edited FXS iPSCs showed a similar electrophysiological property as wild-type neurons, and maintained FMR1 expression for months after engrafting into the mouse brain. Reactivation of FMR1 can be achieved in FXS neurons with demethylation of the CGG expansion. Lastly, we showed that targeted demethylation of the FMR1 promoter can reactivate FMR1 as well suggesting potential therapeutic approaches for FXS.
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic form of intellectual disability in male, is caused by the silence of FMR1. Hypermethylation of the CGG expansion mutation in the 5’UTR region of FMR1 in FXS patients was thought to epigenetically silence FMR1. Here, we applied our previously developed DNA methylation editing tool to reverse this hypermethylation event. Targeted demethylation of the CGG expansion by dCas9-Tet1/gRNA switched the heterochromatin status of the FMR1 promoter to an active chromatin status and subsequently restored FMR1 expression in FXS iPSCs. Neurons derived from methylation edited FXS iPSCs showed a similar electrophysiological property as wild-type neurons, and maintained FMR1 expression for months after engrafting into the mouse brain. Reactivation of FMR1 can be achieved in FXS neurons with demethylation of the CGG expansion. Lastly, we showed that targeted demethylation of the FMR1 promoter can reactivate FMR1 as well suggesting potential therapeutic approaches for FXS.
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic form of intellectual disability in male, is caused by silencing of the FMR1 gene by hypermethylation of the CGG expansion mutation in the 5’UTR region of FMR1 in FXS patients. Here, we applied recently developed DNA methylation editing tools to reverse this hypermethylation event. Targeted demethylation of the CGG expansion by dCas9-Tet1/sgRNA switched the heterochromatin status of the upstream FMR1 promoter to an active chromatin state restoring a persistent expression of FMR1 in FXS iPSCs. Neurons derived from methylation edited FXS iPSCs rescued the electrophysiological abnormalities and restored a wild-type phenotype upon the mutant neurons. FMR1 expression in edited neurons was maintained in vivo after engrafting into the mouse brain. Finally, demethylation of the CGG repeats in post-mitotic FXS neurons also reactivated FMR1. Our data establish demethylation of the CGG expansion is sufficient for FMR1 reactivation, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies for FXS.
Project description:Among the inherited causes of intellectual disability and autism, Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent form, for which there is currently no cure. In most FXS patients, the FMR1 gene is epigenetically inactivated following the expansion over 200 triplets of a CGG repeat (FM: full mutation). FMR1 encodes the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), which binds several mRNAs, mainly in the brain. When the FM becomes methylated at 10-12 weeks of gestation, the FMR1 gene is transcriptionally silent. The molecular mechanisms involved in the epigenetic silencing are not fully elucidated. Among FXS families, there is a rare occurrence of males carrying a FM, which remains active because it is not methylated, thus ensuring enough FMRPs to allow for an intellectual development within normal range. Which mechanisms are responsible for sparing these individuals from being affected by FXS? In order to answer this critical question, which may have possible implications for FXS therapy, several potential epigenetic mechanisms have been described. Here, we focus on current knowledge about the role of DNA methylation and other epigenetic modifications in FMR1 gene silencing.