Autism Linked Gene Stunts Developing Dendrites

Summary: Researchers report a gene associated with autism can cause excessive dendritic pruning during development.

Source: SfN.

Increased expression of a gene linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) leads to a remodeling of dendrites during brain development, according to a new study conducted in cultured neurons and an ASD mouse model published in JNeurosci. The research identifies a series of cellular and molecular events that may contribute to differences in neuronal connectivity that underlie the social and communication deficits observed in autism.

The growth and refinement of dendrites — treelike structures that receive input from other neurons in the brain — is a crucial component of brain development during the first years of life that helps to optimize the function of neural circuits. Changes in the number and structure of dendrites have been observed in patients with ASDs, which are typically diagnosed during this time.

Heng-Ye Man and colleagues found variations in the UBE3A gene that increase production of the E6AP protein cause significant elimination and shortening of dendritic branches. They show that the same pathway is responsible for these changes in both cultured cortical and hippocampal neurons from rats and in mice overexpressing Ube3A. These findings suggest that elevated E6AP activity leads to excessive pruning of dendrites.

dendrites are shown
E6AP overexpression reduces the complexity of dendritic arborization. NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to Man et al., JNeurosci (2017).
About this neuroscience research article

Funding: The research was funded by the NIH.

Source: David Barnstone – SfN
Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com.
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to Man et al., JNeurosci (2017).
Original Research: The study will appear in Journal of Neuroscience.

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]SfN “Autism Linked Gene Stunts Developing Dendrites.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 4 December 2017.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/dendrites-autism-gene-8103/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]SfN (2017, December 4). Autism Linked Gene Stunts Developing Dendrites. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved December 4, 2017 from https://neurosciencenews.com/dendrites-autism-gene-8103/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]SfN “Autism Linked Gene Stunts Developing Dendrites.” https://neurosciencenews.com/dendrites-autism-gene-8103/ (accessed December 4, 2017).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]

Feel free to share this Neuroscience News.
Join our Newsletter
I agree to have my personal information transferred to AWeber for Neuroscience Newsletter ( more information )
Sign up to receive our recent neuroscience headlines and summaries sent to your email once a day, totally free.
We hate spam and only use your email to contact you about newsletters. You can cancel your subscription any time.