Gene Linked To Autism Found

Researchers have identified that the PX-RICS gene is responsible for autism found in more than half of patients with Jacobsen syndrome.

AsianScientist (Mar. 23, 2016) – Researchers in Japan have demonstrated that PX-RICS, a transport protein which suppresses neural activity, is responsible for autism found in Jacobsen syndrome patients. This finding provides novel therapeutic targets for the discovery of anti-autism drugs. Their work was published in Nature Communications.

Autism is a common neurodevelopmental condition with high prevalence—one out of every 80-100 people—characterized by behavioral deficits such as impairment in social interaction; difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication; and restricted interests. It is believed that autism arises from congenital dysfunction of the areas of the brain responsible for social cognition, including the ability to understand and empathize with others. However, the detailed pathogenetic mechanisms remain unclear.

The research group from the University of Tokyo Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences had previously identified the protein PX-RICS that is predominantly expressed in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and other brain regions related to cognitive function.

Mice engineered without the PX-RICS gene were surprisingly normal in appearance. However, in this latest study, when the research group conducted behavioral analyses of the mice, they found that they exhibited a variety of autistic-like behavioral abnormalities. These include less interest in or avoidance of social interaction with other mice, less use of ultrasonic communication with other mice or in mother-pup communication, increased repetitive behavior and a tendency to adhere to previously established habits.

Importantly, they identified that the PX-RICS gene is responsible for autism found in more than half of patients with Jacobsen syndrome, a congenital disorder caused by a terminal deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11.

“The protein PX-RICS is found abundantly in neurons in the cerebral cortex and other parts of the brain, where it transports GABA receptors, which suppress brain activity, to the cell surface,” says lead author Tsutomu Nakamura.

“Now, we have shown that the transport of GABA receptors is involved with the onset of autism. This transport mechanism provides promising molecular targets for the discovery of novel anti-autism drugs, and may contribute to the discovery of new treatment strategies for autism.”



The article can be found at: Nakamura et al. (2016) PX-RICS-Deficient Mice Mimic Autism Spectrum Disorder in Jacobsen Syndrome Through Impaired GABAA Receptor Trafficking.

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Source: University of Tokyo; Photo: Shutterstock.
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