Micro-RNA
Methylation and ASD
Micro-RNA are post-translational regulators which bind to mRNA transcripts to prevent protein synthesis. One study found that there was differential micro-RNA expression between identical twins, one of whom had ASD and one who did not. These differential mi-RNA profiles were already found to be related to processes that are associated with ASD, including inflammation, circadian rhythm signaling, synaptic function and development, and androgen metabolism. This suggests that mi-RNA may play a roll in the etiology of ASD.1
References
1. Sarachana T et. al. Investigation of post-transcriptional gene regulatory networks associated with autism spectrum disorders by microRNA expression profiling of lymphoblastoid cell lines. Genome Med. 2010 Apr 7;2(4):23. PMID 20374639
