Research advances understanding of Fragile X syndrome

It has been known for several years that the product of the gene responsible for Fragile X syndrome regulates the expression of other proteins in nerve cells. How this relates to Fragile X syndrome, though, has not been clear. Researchers at Vanderbilt University used a fruit fly model of the syndrome to observe the function of the Fragile X protein. Their findings suggest that Fragile X syndrome may be caused by alteration in the growth of the brain's nerve cells and the connections between these cells. The research was published in the October 26, 2004, edition of Current Biology.