L1 retrotransposition in neurons is modulated by MeCP2.
Muotri, Alysson R. 1,5; Marchetto, Maria C. N. 2,5; Coufal, Nicole G. 2; Oefner, Ruth 2; Yeo, Gene 3; Nakashima, Kinichi 4; Gage, Fred H. 2
[Letter] Nature. 468(7322):443-446, November 18, 2010.

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: Long interspersed nuclear elements-1 (L1) retrotransposons affect gene expression and neuronal function throughout brain development. These authors show that the absence of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, a modulator of DNA methylation implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders, increases L1 retrotransposon activity in rodent models, with this increase in susceptibility duplicated in patients with Rett syndrome. These correlations suggest that disease-related genetic mutations may influence L1 retrotransposon activity.

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