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The Role of Translational Control in Cortical Dysgenesis in Mammalian Brain

Project Overview

Dr. Yang is studying genetic mechanisms that alter brain development at a molecular and cellular level, leading to changes implicated in autism spectrum disorder. He does this by studying messenger RNA translation. Previously, Dr. Yang had focused on the elF4E gene, a regulator of mRNA translation, which is genetically altered in individuals with
autism spectrum disorder. He was able to show that the elF4E gene plays an essential role in maintaining neural precursor cells and controlling neurogenesis during embryonic cortical development. Dr. Yang has successfully extended his work, and found that the 4E-T protein has an important role in forming a complex with elF4E to regulate neurogenesis, through an interacting protein known as Smaug2. These findings provide new insights in the underlying biological mechanism of neural development and autism spectrum disorder. The paper describing this work has been viewed 1558 times by thousands of scientists around the world. Dr. Yang has presented at several local conferences, including the Canadian Association of Neuroscience, and was the recipient of the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Brain Star Award

Principal Investigator

Guang Yang , The Hospital For Sick Children

Partners and Donors

Bell Canada

Project Ongoing

The Role of Translational Control in Cortical Dysgenesis in Mammalian Brain

  • Program Type

    Capacity building grants

  • Area of research

    Neurodevelopment

  • Disease Area

    Mental illness

  • Competition

    Bell Mental Health Research Training Awards

  • Province

    Ontario

  • Start Date

    2013

  • Total Grant Amount

    $165,000