Possible role for Huntington's gene discovered

MIT biological engineers have found that the protein encoded by this mutant gene alters patterns of chemical modifications of DNA. This type of modification, known as methylation, controls whether genes are turned on or off at any given time. The mutant form of this protein, dubbed "huntingtin," appears to specifically target genes involved in brain cell function. Disruptions in the expression of these genes could account for the neurodegenerative symptoms seen in Huntington's disease, including early changes in cognition, says Ernest Fraenkel, an associate professor of biological engineering at MIT.

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