M6A-mediated epi-transcriptomic dysregulation underlies synaptic dysfunction in fragile X syndrome [RNA-seq]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE278697 | GEO | 2025/02/26
REPOSITORIES: GEO
Similar Datasets
Project description:N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a prevalent mRNA modification essential for post-transcriptional regulation. Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the leading genetic cause of intellectual disability, arises from FMR1 gene silencing and loss of FMRP, which has been shown to antagonize m6A readers. However, the impact of FMRP loss on transcriptome-wide m6A modifications in human FXS remains unknown. Using cortical neurons derived from healthy subjects and FXS patient-induced pluripotent stem cells, we found that FXS neurons exhibited synaptic and neuronal network defects, mirroring clinical EEG data from the same FXS patients. FMRP deficiency led to increased translation of m6A writers, resulting in transcriptome-wide hypermethylation, primarily affecting synapse-associated transcripts and increasing mRNA decay. Treatment with an m6A writer inhibitor rescued synaptic defects in FXS neurons, highlighting its therapeutic potential. Our findings uncover an epi-transcriptomic mechanism by which FMRP deficiency disrupts m6A modifications in FXS, contributing to FXS pathogenesis, and suggest a promising avenue for m6A-targeted therapies.
2025-02-26 | GSE278698 | GEO
Project description:Translation activation of local synaptic mRNA is critical to learning and memory. Despite extensive studies on how phosphorylations of ribosome units and translation factors enable fast response to exogenous stimuli, our knowledge on molecular pathways utilized by RNA binding proteins (RBPs) to control translation of specific mRNAs remains incomplete. We have previously found that YTHDF1 regulates depolarization-induced protein synthesis by promoting translation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified transcripts. Here we report an unexpected mechanism that the stimuli-induced neuronal translation is mediated by phosphorylation of a YTHDF1-binding protein FMRP. Phosphorylation of FMRP serine 499 induced by neuronal depolarization alters the condensing behavior of prion-like protein YTHDF1. Unphosphorylated FMRP sequesters YTHDF1 away from the translation initiation complex, whereas the stimulation-induced FMRP phosphorylation releases YTHDF1 to form translational active condensates with the ribosome to activate translation of YTHDF1 target transcripts. In fragile X syndrome (FXS) models characterized with low FMRP expression, we observed YTHDF1-mediated hyperactive translation, which notably impacts FXS pathophysiology. Developmental defects in an FXS forebrain organoid model could be reversed by a selective small-molecule inhibitor of YTHDF1 which acts by suppressing its condensation in neurons. We characterized transcriptome-wide translation alterations with the inhibitor treatment in organoids and identified targets that explain alleviated FXS pathology. Our study thus reveals FMRP and its phosphorylation as an important regulator of the activity-dependent translation during neuronal development and stimulation, and identifies YTHDF1 as a potential therapeutic target for FXS in which developmental defects caused by FMRP depletion could be reversed through YTHDF1 inhibition.
2023-10-31 | GSE214882 | GEO
Project description:Neuronal diversity and function are intricately linked to the dynamic regulation of RNA metabolism, including splicing, localization, and translation. Electrophysiologic studies of synaptic plasticity, models for learning and memory, are disrupted in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). FXS is characterized by the loss of FMRP, an RNA-binding protein (RBP) known to bind and suppress translation of specific neuronal RNAs. Since molecular studies have demonstrated that synaptic plasticity in CA1 excitatory hippocampal neurons is protein-synthesis dependent, together these observations have suggested a potential role for FMRP in synaptic plasticity in FXS. To explore this model, we developed a new experimental platform, Opto-CLIP, to integrate optogenetics with cell-type specific FMRP CLIP and RiboTag in CA1 hippocampal neurons, allowing investigation of FMRP- regulated dynamics after neuronal activation. We tracked changes in FMRP binding and ribosome- associated RNA profiles 30 minutes after neuronal activation. Our findings reveal a significant reduction in FMRP-RNA binding to transcripts encoding nuclear proteins, suggesting FMRP translational inhibition may be de-repressed to allow rapid translational responses required for neuronal homeostasis. In contrast, FMRP binding to transcripts encoding synaptic targets were generally stable after activation, but all categories of targets demonstrated variability in FMRP translational control. Opto-CLIP revealed differential regulation of subsets of transcripts within CA1 neurons rapidly after depolarization, and offers promise as a generally useful platform to uncover mechanisms of RBP-mediated RNA regulation in the context of synaptic plasticity.
2025-01-15 | GSE286379 | GEO
Project description:Neuronal diversity and function are intricately linked to the dynamic regulation of RNA metabolism, including splicing, localization, and translation. Electrophysiologic studies of synaptic plasticity, models for learning and memory, are disrupted in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). FXS is characterized by the loss of FMRP, an RNA-binding protein (RBP) known to bind and suppress translation of specific neuronal RNAs. Since molecular studies have demonstrated that synaptic plasticity in CA1 excitatory hippocampal neurons is protein-synthesis dependent, together these observations have suggested a potential role for FMRP in synaptic plasticity in FXS. To explore this model, we developed a new experimental platform, Opto-CLIP, to integrate optogenetics with cell-type specific FMRP CLIP and RiboTag in CA1 hippocampal neurons, allowing investigation of FMRP- regulated dynamics after neuronal activation. We tracked changes in FMRP binding and ribosome- associated RNA profiles 30 minutes after neuronal activation. Our findings reveal a significant reduction in FMRP-RNA binding to transcripts encoding nuclear proteins, suggesting FMRP translational inhibition may be de-repressed to allow rapid translational responses required for neuronal homeostasis. In contrast, FMRP binding to transcripts encoding synaptic targets were generally stable after activation, but all categories of targets demonstrated variability in FMRP translational control. Opto-CLIP revealed differential regulation of subsets of transcripts within CA1 neurons rapidly after depolarization, and offers promise as a generally useful platform to uncover mechanisms of RBP-mediated RNA regulation in the context of synaptic plasticity.
2025-01-15 | GSE286381 | GEO
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by the absence of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). We have previously generated FXS-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients' fibroblasts. In this study, we aimed at unraveling the molecular phenotype of the disease. Our data revealed aberrant regulation of neural differentiation and axon guidance genes in FXS-derived neurons, which are regulated by the RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST). Moreover, we found REST to be elevated in FXS-derived neurons. As FMRP is involved in the microRNA (miRNA) pathway we employed microRNA-array analyses and uncovered several miRNAs dysregulated in FXS-derived neurons. We found hsa-mir-382 to be down-regulated in FXS-derived neurons, and introduction of mimic-mir-382 into these neurons was sufficient to repress REST and up-regulate its axon guidance target genes. Our data link, FMRP and REST, through the miRNA pathway, and show a new aspect in the development of FXS. Affimetrix miRNA array of two WT and two fragile X syndrome derived neurons
2014-10-28 | E-GEOD-62721 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a rare disease but is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability and a leading cause of autism. FXS is due to the absence of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein mainly involved in translational control. Even if this molecular defect is known, no specific therapy is available for FXS. The first alteration observed in the brain of FXS patients and of Fmr1 KO mice, model for FXS, is represented by an abnormal dendritic morphology that is associated with an altered synaptic plasticity. These findings led to numerous studies focused on mature neurons. However, recently, an increasing body of evidence is pointing out the importance of FMRP in the early steps of brain development. Thus, with the purpose to decipher the earliest molecular events leading to FXS we developed a stem-cell-based disease model by knocking-down the expression of Fmr1 in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. To gain insights in the pathways that are affected when FMRP is repressed, we performed a gene expression profile analysis comparing total RNA from shFmr1 and shControl ES cells using whole genome mouse microarrays. Transcripts were clustered according to their Gene Ontology classification using the DAVID software. Surprisingly, the most altered functional category was Nervous system development and function, highlighting the role of FMRP also during the earliest steps of neural development. To study the precise role of FMRP in Embryonic stem (ES) cells, we used an RNAi-based loss-of-function strategy by transducing mouse ES cells with a lentivirus expressing GFP and a shRNA targeting the constitutive exon 1 of Fmr1 (shFmr1). A random shRNA (shCT) was used as a control sequence. Transduced cells were sorted by flow cytometry and established as non-clonal cell populations. RNA samples were harvested and profiling experiments were performed in â??dye-balanceâ?? as indicated for each replicate.
2016-07-04 | E-GEOD-71184 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Loss of the neuronal RNA binding protein FMRP causes Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability, yet it is unknown which brain regions and cell types within them contribute to disease pathophysiology. We used conditional tagging of FMRP and CLIP (cTag FMRP CLIP) to examine FMRP targets specifically in CA1 hippocampal neurons, a critical cell type for learning and memory known to have altered synaptic function in FXS. Integrating this data with analysis of ribosome-bound transcripts from the same neuronal population revealed CA1-enriched binding of autism-relevant mRNAs, and unexpected CA1-specific regulation of transcripts encoding circadian proteins.
2020-01-07 | GSE127846 | GEO
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a disease of pathologic epigenetic silencing induced by RNA. In FXS, an expanded CGG-repeat tract in the FMR1 gene induces epigenetic silencing during embryogenesis. FMR1 silencing can be reversed with 5-aza-deoxyctidine (5-aza-dC), a nonspecific epigenetic reactivator; however, continuous administration of 5-aza-dC is problematic due to its toxicity. We describe an approach to restore FMR1 expression in FXS neurons by transient treatment with 5-aza-dC, followed by treatment with 2HE-5NMe, which binds the CGG-repeat expansion in the FMR1 mRNA and blocks the resilencing of the FMR1 gene after withdrawal of 5-aza-dC. Genome-wide profiling of histone marks shows that 2HE-5Nme maintains FMR1 in a reactivated state. FMR1 reactivation in neurons results in re-expression of FMRP and reversal of FXS-associated dendritic spine defects. These results demonstrate that an RNA-binding small molecule can achieve gene-specific epigenetic control, and provide an approach for restoration of FMRP in FXS neurons.
2025-02-25 | GSE272192 | GEO
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a disease of pathologic epigenetic silencing induced by RNA. In FXS, an expanded CGG-repeat tract in the FMR1 gene induces epigenetic silencing during embryogenesis. FMR1 silencing can be reversed with 5-aza-deoxyctidine (5-aza-dC), a nonspecific epigenetic reactivator; however, continuous administration of 5-aza-dC is problematic due to its toxicity. We describe an approach to restore FMR1 expression in FXS neurons by transient treatment with 5-aza-dC, followed by treatment with 2HE-5NMe, which binds the CGG-repeat expansion in the FMR1 mRNA and blocks the resilencing of the FMR1 gene after withdrawal of 5-aza-dC. Genome-wide profiling of histone marks shows that 2HE-5Nme maintains FMR1 in a reactivated state. FMR1 reactivation in neurons results in re-expression of FMRP and reversal of FXS-associated dendritic spine defects. These results demonstrate that an RNA-binding small molecule can achieve gene-specific epigenetic control, and provide an approach for restoration of FMRP in FXS neurons.
2025-02-25 | GSE272191 | GEO
Project description:Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by the absence of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). We have previously generated FXS-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients' fibroblasts. In this study, we aimed at unraveling the molecular phenotype of the disease. Our data revealed aberrant regulation of neural differentiation and axon guidance genes in FXS-derived neurons, which are regulated by the RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST). Moreover, we found REST to be elevated in FXS-derived neurons. As FMRP is involved in the microRNA (miRNA) pathway we employed microRNA-array analyses and uncovered several miRNAs dysregulated in FXS-derived neurons. We found hsa-mir-382 to be down-regulated in FXS-derived neurons, and introduction of mimic-mir-382 into these neurons was sufficient to repress REST and up-regulate its axon guidance target genes. Our data link, FMRP and REST, through the miRNA pathway, and show a new aspect in the development of FXS.
2014-10-28 | GSE62721 | GEO