Study Details Atomic Structure of Autism Associated Proteins

Autism has been defined largely by behavioral deficits. That is changing though as new research is reported almost daily providing more detail on the neurological basis of autism. NEURON magazine in its incredible December 20 07 issue has published a report of a study showing it is possible to reverse some symptoms of Fragile X and some autism disorders. The same issue reports a study detailing, on an atomic level, the structure of altered proteins associated with autism.

In Structural Analysis of the Synaptic Protein Neuroligin and Its b-Neurexin Complex:
Determinants for Folding and Cell Adhesion Pascale Marchot and Igor P. Fabrichny, Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Jean Roche, Université de la Mediterranée; Philippe Leone, Gerlind Sulzenbacher and Yves Bourne, Universités Aix-Marseille; and Davide Comoletti and Meghan T. Miller, UCSD Department of Pharmacology, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences provide detailed data, charts and description of the structure of the neurologin family of proteins believed to be affected by genetic mutations and believed to be involved with autism and mental retardation.

In Atomic Structure of Proteins Altered in Autism the University of California, San Diego Health Sciences Press Release published on Newswise emphasizes that this study builds on previous studies but provides new detail:

“This goes beyond previous studies to show the individual atoms of these two proteins and how they interact,” said Palmer Taylor, Ph.D., Dean of SSPPS and the Sandra & Monroe Trout Professor of Pharmacology. “We have described the mutations found in some people with autism; and we have identified where the altered amino acids are located in the protein, and how they impact the folding and cell adhesion properties of neuroligin and neurexin.”

The research builds on earlier work that mapped the molecular structure of neuroligins and their partner proteins, neurexins – a protein complex involved in the junctions, or synapses, through which cells of the nervous system signal to one another. The new study, conducted with Pascale Marchot and Yves Bourne and their colleagues in Marseille, France, adds to a clearer understanding of how particular genetic mutations affect formation of this complex and contribute to the developmental abnormalities found in certain individuals with autism.

Normally, individual neuroligins interacting with specific neurexin partners are involved in synaptic adhesions, imparting ‘stickiness’ that enables them to associate and form synapses that have the capacity for neurotransmission. Incorrect partnering in these diverse protein families results when a mutant neuroligin fails to associate properly at synapses, preventing the normal transmission of brain cells.

The change in synaptic function may account for impairments in development, social interaction and communication displayed in individuals with autism spectrum disorders, according to the researchers.

The world is experiencing an Autism Knowledge Revolution. When knowledge grows superstition, prejudice, ideology and personal agendas wane in influence, in this case to the benefit of persons with autism.

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