Mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation of MeCP2

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请的目标是揭示参与MeCP2基因异常大的3'非翻译区形成和功能调控的序列和因素。这个大约8.5 kb的3' UTR可能包含在转录后水平调节基因表达的元件。首先，研究人员将确定在MeCP2基因的选择性聚腺苷化中起作用的辅助调控元件和因子，该过程以组织和发育特异性的方式决定3' UTR的大小。其次，他们将验证长3' UTR在决定MeCP2 mRNA的差异稳定性或翻译中起作用的假设。这些研究代表了MeCP2表达的未被探索的领域，这些领域可能对Rett综合征中观察到的组织特异性效应具有关键影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this application is to uncover the sequences and factors involved in the regulation of the formation and function of the unusually large 3' untranslated region of the MeCP2 gene. This approximately 8.5 kb 3' UTR likely contains elements that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. First, the investigators will identify auxiliary regulatory elements and factors that play a role in alternative polyadenylation of the MeCP2 gene, the process that determines the size of the 3' UTR in a tissue- and developmental-specific fashion. Second, they will test the hypothesis that the long 3' UTR plays a role in determining differential stability or translation of the MeCP2 mRNA. These studies represent under-explored areas of MeCP2 expression that may have a critical influence in the tissue-specific effects observed in Rett syndrome.