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MeCP2 Dysfunction in Rett Syndrome and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

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Psychiatric Disorders

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2011))

Abstract

Elucidating the functions of a particular gene is paramount to the understanding of how its dysfunction contributes to disease. This is especially important when the gene is implicated in multiple different disorders. One such gene is methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), which has been most prominently associated with the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome, as well as major neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Being initially identified as a transcriptional regulator that modulates gene expression and subsequently also shown to be involved in other molecular events, dysfunction of the MeCP2 protein has the potential to affect many cellular processes. In this chapter, we will briefly review the functions of the MeCP2 protein and how its mutations are implicated in Rett syndrome and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We will further discuss about the mouse models that have been generated to specifically dissect the function of MeCP2 in different cell types and brain regions. It is envisioned that such thorough and targeted examination of MeCP2 functions can aid in enlightening the role that it plays in normal and dysfunctional physiological systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience and Mental Health Faculty, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

    Eunice W. M. Chin & Eyleen L. K. Goh

  2. Department of Research, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore

    Eyleen L. K. Goh

  3. Neuroscience Academic Clinical Programme, Singhealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Center, Singapore, Singapore

    Eyleen L. K. Goh

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  1. Eunice W. M. Chin
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  2. Eyleen L. K. Goh
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Correspondence to Eyleen L. K. Goh .

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  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Firas H. Kobeissy

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Chin, E.W.M., Goh, E.L.K. (2019). MeCP2 Dysfunction in Rett Syndrome and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. In: Kobeissy, F. (eds) Psychiatric Disorders. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2011. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9554-7_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9554-7_33

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