Research Awards
Jeffrey C. Hansen, Ph.D.
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
"Solution-state Characterization of Native and Mutant MeCP2 Interactions with Chromatin and Sin3p"
2-Year Award: $99,000
Research Sponsor: Gardner Family Foundation
Final Report (November 2004)
Mutations in the protein, MeCP2, lead to RTT. The studies funded by this RSRF research grant have discovered a new functional property of MeCP2 that may be related to RTT. By studying how purified MeCP2 interacts in the test tube with chromosomal fragments, we showed that MeCP2 possesses the ability to profoundly alter the local and global structure of chromosomes. Using two different mutated forms of MeCP2 found in RTT, we further demonstrated that both mutants possessed an altered ability to influence chromosome structure relative to normal MeCP2. These studies have opened up an entirely new line of investigation into the molecular basis of MeCP2 function. Further studies will help determine the extent to which genome architecture is one of the molecular factors that contributes to MeCP2 function in normal and RTT disease states.
Jeffrey C. Hansen, Ph.D.University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
"Solution-state Characterization of Native and Mutant MeCP2 Interactions with Chromatin and Sin3p"
2-Year Award: $99,000
Research Sponsor: Gardner Family Foundation
Final Report (November 2004)
Mutations in the protein, MeCP2, lead to RTT. The studies funded by this RSRF research grant have discovered a new functional property of MeCP2 that may be related to RTT. By studying how purified MeCP2 interacts in the test tube with chromosomal fragments, we showed that MeCP2 possesses the ability to profoundly alter the local and global structure of chromosomes. Using two different mutated forms of MeCP2 found in RTT, we further demonstrated that both mutants possessed an altered ability to influence chromosome structure relative to normal MeCP2. These studies have opened up an entirely new line of investigation into the molecular basis of MeCP2 function. Further studies will help determine the extent to which genome architecture is one of the molecular factors that contributes to MeCP2 function in normal and RTT disease states.