What are you currently working on? “My research in Dr. Natalie Bérubé’s lab is currently focused on investigating the role of the chromatin remodeling protein ATRX and how it functions to regulate microRNA expression. When ATRX is deleted in male pediatric patients, it results in Alphathalassemia X-linked intellectual disability syndrome or ATRX syndrome for short. ATRX patients present with severe intellectual disability, craniofacial abnormalities, genital abnormalities, and even autistic-like behaviours. ATRX is on the X chromosome and ATRX syndrome is primarily diagnosed in male pediatric patients because female patients have the benefit of having two X chromosomes; if they inherit a mutated copy of the gene, they can use the unmutated copy to cope. Our lab has created a mouse model where ATRX is deleted specifically in forebrain excitatory neurons, and these mice show long-term memory and spatial learning deficits. I'm investigating how this protein's ability to regulate microRNAs then facilitates the effects that we're seeing. I'm trying to determine which microRNAs are dysregulated and how that then effects the expression of their target mRNAs in vivo. I am hoping to rescue any dysregulated microRNAs by
Julia Brott Graduate Student PhD Candidate Contact Info jbrott@uwo.ca
injecting microRNA sponges into their hippocampi and see whether or not I can actually rescue their long-term spatial learning and memory death.”
“I know that whatever I do, I want to make sure I’m still actively participating in research” What are your future career goals? “Honestly, that's the big question for all students, right? I don't know if I have the exact position nailed down as much as I just know that throughout the years of being in research, I've fallen in love with it. I can't get enough of it. I know that whatever I do, I want to make sure I'm still actively participating in research, whether that's becoming a PI and running my own research lab or working in industry, doing research underneath a pharmaceutical company or a health agency or a hospital. Just as long as I'm actively working towards a research goal, trying to answer these big scientific questions, and then hopefully translating those answers in a way that directly helps patients and people.” 36
