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Osmotic Avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: Synaptic Function of Two Genes, Orthologues of Human NRXN1 and NLGN1, as Candidates for Autism
Published on: December 11, 2009
Mutations of the X-linked genes encoding neuroligins NLGN3 and NLGN4 are associated with autism
Stéphane Jamain1, Hélène Quach, Catalina Betancur
1Laboratoire de Génétique Humaine et Fonctions Cognitives, Université Paris 7, Institut National de la Santé et la Recherche Médicale E0021, 75015 Paris, France.
Abstract:
Many studies have supported a genetic etiology for autism. Here we report mutations in two X-linked genes encoding neuroligins NLGN3 and NLGN4 in siblings with autism-spectrum disorders. These mutations affect cell-adhesion molecules localized at the synapse and suggest that a defect of synaptogenesis may predispose to autism.
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