Role of conserved cis-regulatory elements in the post-transcriptional regulation of the human MECP2 gene involved in autism.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The MECP2 gene codes for methyl CpG binding protein 2 which regulates activities of other genes in the early development of the brain. Mutations in this gene have been associated with Rett syndrome, a form of autism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of evolutionarily conserved cis-elements in regulating the post-transcriptional expression of the MECP2 gene and to explore their possible correlations with a mutation that is known to cause mental retardation.

Results

A bioinformatics approach was used to map evolutionarily conserved cis-regulatory elements in the transcribed regions of the human MECP2 gene and its mammalian orthologs. Cis-regulatory motifs including G-quadruplexes, microRNA target sites, and AU-rich elements have gained significa

SUBMITTER: Bagga JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3844687 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature