Genetic Brain Disorder Recently Fixed In Mice By Using Epigenome Editing

By using a targeted gene of epigenome editing usual approach in the continuous developing mouse brain, Johns Hopkins Medicine has researched reversed single gene mutation which leads for the genetic disorder of WAGR syndrome that also causes intellectual disability and absolute obesity in people. This specific type of editing was either unique in that it changed the overall epigenome and how the genes have regulated by without changing the actual original genetic code of the gene that is being regulated.
The researchers have also found that this gene, C11orf46, is further an important regulator during the brain development. Specifically, it also turns on and off the direction sensing proteins which help guide the long length fibers that grow out of newly formed neurons that are responsible for sending electrical messages and further helping them form into a bundle, which also reconnects the two hemispheres of our brain. Failure of properly forming this bundled structure, referred as the corpus callosum, can further lead to conditions such as intellectual disability, autism or few other brain developmental disorders.
Atsushi Kamiya who is M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and also behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has said that although this type of work is early, but these findings suggests that there may be chances of developing future epigenome editing therapies which could help in reshaping the neural connections in our brain.

By: Prerana Sharma
Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191210140410.htm