RNA-binding protein FXR1

FXR1 (RNA-binding protein FXR1) is an mRNA-binding protein that regulates mRNA translation and stability by binding to AU-rich elements in the 3' UTRs of target transcripts. It undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation to assemble mRNAs into cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granules, facilitating translation initiation and regulating protein synthesis across multiple processes (UniProt: P51114).

In the nervous system, FXR1 plays critical roles in neurogenesis, synaptic homeostasis, and sleep regulation. It acts as a negative regulator of inflammation and modulates AMPA receptor synthesis during synaptic potentiation in hippocampal neurons. FXR1 mutations are associated with congenital myopathies characterized by muscle weakness and hypotonia, reflecting its essential function in muscle development and tissue integrity (UniProt: P51114).

FXR1 is upregulated in Alzheimer's Disease brain tissue compared to age-matched controls, with a mean log2 fold-change of 0.31 in post-mortem AD brain proteomics (Chaparral AD proteomics). This elevation suggests a potential compensatory or pathological role in AD pathophysiology, warranting further investigation into its contribution to neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, or aggregation-related processes in neurodegeneration.