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SUMMARY:Babraham Distinguished Lecture - MeCP2 and the causes of Rett synd
 rome  - Professor Sir Adrian Bird CBE FRS FRSE FMedSci\; Buchanan Professo
 r of Genetics\, University of Edinburgh
DTSTART:20190220T140000Z
DTEND:20190220T150000Z
UID:TALK111253@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Bobbie Claxton
DESCRIPTION:Neurological disorders caused by mutations in a single gene of
 fer us the prospect of understanding at a molecular level the chain of eve
 nts leading to pathology. In turn\, these specific examples may hold lesso
 ns that apply to to autism spectrum disorders more broadly. Rett syndrome\
 , for example\, is a profound disorder that almost exclusively results fro
 m mutations in the X-linked MECP2 gene. Duplication of the MECP2 gene lead
 s to a distinct but equally serious disorder. A bottom-up approach to ther
 apy requires knowledge of the molecular functions normally associated with
  MeCP2. It is known that the protein binds to sites on DNA that are chemic
 ally altered by DNA methylation and there is evidence that it interprets t
 his “epigenetic” mark. Both the spectrum of mutations causing Rett syn
 drome and biochemical and genetic analyses of MeCP2 function support the v
 iew that its primary role is to restrain transcription of many genes in a 
 DNA methylation-dependent manner via recruitment of co-repressor complexes
 . Alternative hypotheses for MeCP2 function have been put forward\, and it
  is therefore necessary to rigorously test the key theoretical predictions
  of each. My talk will present the results of experiments of this kind\, w
 hich suggest a global role for MeCP2 in restraining transcription in the b
 rain. Taken together with earlier demonstrations that the Rett-like phenot
 ype is potentially curable\, this new knowledge may facilitate future appr
 oaches to therapy.
LOCATION:Babraham - The Cambridge Building\; Petersfield Lecture Theatre
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