Genetic Links Between Autism and Schizophrenia

Author: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST)
Published: 2022/08/11 - Updated: 2024/08/05
Publication Type: Findings - Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Topic: Neurological Disorders (Publications Database)

Page Content: Synopsis Definition Introduction Main Item

Synopsis: Discovery of a genetic mutation and new synaptic adhesion signaling mechanism that causes intellectual disabilities.

• Slitrack2 protein is specifically involved in the formation of excitatory synapses and is closely related to brain diseases such as X-linked intellectual disability, autism, intellectual disability, etc.

• The discovery is expected to present a new research direction for treating brain developmental disorders by coordinating the excitatory synaptic signaling activity.

Defining Synapse

Synapse: A synapse is a structure that permits a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron or the target effector cell. Synapses are essential to transmitting nervous impulses from one neuron to another. There are two fundamentally different types of synapses: In a chemical synapse, electrical activity in the presynaptic neuron is converted into the release of a chemical called a neurotransmitter that binds to receptors located in the plasma membrane of the postsynaptic cell. In an electrical synapse, the presynaptic and postsynaptic cell membranes are connected by special channels called gap junctions capable of passing an electric current, causing voltage changes in the presynaptic cell to induce voltage changes in the postsynaptic cell.

Introduction

There is a DNA that causes autism and schizophrenia. Discovery of new synaptic adhesion signaling mechanism that causes intellectual disabilities.

Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) President Kuk Yang announced that a joint research team of professors Um Ji-won and Ko Jae-won of the Department of Brain Sciences reported a new genetic mutation related to intellectual disability and discovered an excitatory synaptic activation signaling mechanism related to the mutation. The discovery is expected to present a new research direction to the treatment of brain developmental disorders by coordinating the excitatory synaptic signaling activity.

Main Item

A synapse is a special channel that transmits neural information quickly and accurately and controls all brain functions. Synapses are divided into excitatory synapses and inhibitory synapses. These synapses cooperate, so that brain functions work normally and maintain the balance of the neural circuit network. It is known that various brain developmental diseases, mental diseases, degenerative brain diseases, etc. occur when this balance is disturbed.

Meanwhile, synaptic adhesion proteins bind with each other physically and chemically and then transmit cellular signals in both directions. However, this binding has not been clearly shown regarding how signals are transmitted within cells.

Since 2013, a joint research team led by Professor Um Ji-won and Ko Jae-won discovered many synaptic adhesion proteins and studied their functions. In particular, the research team identified the Slitrk synaptic adhesive protein group as a key factor in developing excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Among these, the Slitrack2 protein is specifically involved in forming excitatory synapses. It is closely related to brain diseases such as X-linked intellectual disability, autism, intellectual disability, etc.

Various SlitTrack2 gene mutations related to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have actually been reported previously, but how these mutations affect the function of the SlitTrack2 protein and cause brain disease has not been clearly known.

This study detected various SlitTrack2 gene mutations that were not previously reported through exome sequencing in patients with brain, mental and developmental disorders and systematically analyzed how these mutations affect the structure and function of the SlitTrack2 protein. In particular, the research team found that some mutations inhibited the excitatory synaptic neuro-transmission process by disrupting the SlitTrack2 protein functions from properly expressing in the cell membrane.

Interestingly, all of the novel SlitTrack2 mutations associated with developmental brain diseases abnormally altered the expression and activity of track B receptors. Track B receptors are important proteins that mediate synaptic development with the BDNF factor. Its association with developmental brain diseases such as autism is also well known. The results of this study are expected to provide important clues for developing new therapeutics for psychiatric disorders targeting the SlitTrack2-TrackB complex.

Professor Um Ji-won of the Department of Brain Sciences at DGIST said:

"This study is the first thesis that presents key evidence that a problem in the SlitTrack2 gene can cause X chromosome-related intellectual disability. In collaboration with overseas clinical geneticists." Professor Ko Jae-won stated, "This suggests that the SlitTrk2-TrkB complex can be an important biomarker for related brain developmental diseases, and we are currently carrying out follow-up studies."

About the Study

Meanwhile, Han Gyeong-ah, Research Professor of the Department of Brain Sciences at DGIST, Kim Dong-wook in the combined master's and doctorate program, and Jang Gyu-bin in the master's program participated in the study as co-first authors. The research result was published in the international professional journal 'Nature Communications [Influence Index: 17.694]' online on July 15. In addition, it was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation's 'Medium-sized Research Project' and 'Basic Laboratory Support Project' programs, and the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology's 'Future Leading Specialized Research' program.

Related Information

Attribution/Source(s):

This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), and published on 2022/08/11 (Edit Update: 2024/08/05), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) can be contacted at dgist.ac.kr/en/. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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