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Hill WD, Davies G, van de Lagemaat LN, Christoforou A, Marioni RE, Fernandes CPD, Liewald DC, Croning MDR, Payton A, Craig LCA, Whalley LJ, Horan M, Ollier W, Hansell NK, Wright MJ, Martin NG, Montgomery GW, Steen VM, Le Hellard S, Espeseth T, Lundervold AJ, Reinvang I, Starr JM, Pendleton N, Grant SGN, Bates TC, Deary IJ. Human cognitive ability is influenced by genetic variation in components of postsynaptic signalling complexes assembled by NMDA receptors and MAGUK proteins. Transl Psychiatry 2014; 4:e341. [PMID: 24399044 PMCID: PMC3905224 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2013.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Revised: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in general cognitive ability (intelligence) account for approximately half of the variation in any large battery of cognitive tests and are predictive of important life events including health. Genome-wide analyses of common single-nucleotide polymorphisms indicate that they jointly tag between a quarter and a half of the variance in intelligence. However, no single polymorphism has been reliably associated with variation in intelligence. It remains possible that these many small effects might be aggregated in networks of functionally linked genes. Here, we tested a network of 1461 genes in the postsynaptic density and associated complexes for an enriched association with intelligence. These were ascertained in 3511 individuals (the Cognitive Ageing Genetics in England and Scotland (CAGES) consortium) phenotyped for general cognitive ability, fluid cognitive ability, crystallised cognitive ability, memory and speed of processing. By analysing the results of a genome wide association study (GWAS) using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, a significant enrichment was found for fluid cognitive ability for the proteins found in the complexes of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor complex; P=0.002. Replication was sought in two additional cohorts (N=670 and 2062). A meta-analytic P-value of 0.003 was found when these were combined with the CAGES consortium. The results suggest that genetic variation in the macromolecular machines formed by membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) scaffold proteins and their interaction partners contributes to variation in intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- W D Hill
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - G Davies
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Medical Genetics Section, The University of Edinburgh Molecular Medicine Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - L N van de Lagemaat
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences and Centre for Neuroregeneration The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - A Christoforou
- Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway,Dr E. Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - R E Marioni
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Medical Genetics Section, The University of Edinburgh Molecular Medicine Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - C P D Fernandes
- Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway,Dr E. Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - D C Liewald
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M D R Croning
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences and Centre for Neuroregeneration The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - A Payton
- Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - L C A Craig
- Public Health Nutrition Research Group Section of Population Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - L J Whalley
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - M Horan
- Centre for Clinical and Cognitive Neurosciences, Institute Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - W Ollier
- Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - N K Hansell
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - M J Wright
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - N G Martin
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - G W Montgomery
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - V M Steen
- Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway,Dr E. Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - S Le Hellard
- Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway,Dr E. Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - T Espeseth
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - A J Lundervold
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway,Kavli Research Centre for Aging and Dementia, Haraldplass Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - I Reinvang
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - J M Starr
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - N Pendleton
- Centre for Clinical and Cognitive Neurosciences, Institute Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - S G N Grant
- Genes to Cognition Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences and Centre for Neuroregeneration The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - T C Bates
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - I J Deary
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK. E-mail:
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102
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Almeida RG, Lyons DA. On the resemblance of synapse formation and CNS myelination. Neuroscience 2013; 276:98-108. [PMID: 24035825 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Revised: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The myelination of axons in the central nervous system (CNS) is essential for nervous system formation, function and health. CNS myelination continues well into adulthood, but not all axons become myelinated. Unlike the peripheral nervous system, where we know of numerous axon-glial signals required for myelination, we have a poor understanding of the nature or identity of such molecules that regulate which axons are myelinated in the CNS. Recent studies have started to elucidate cell behavior during myelination in vivo and indicate that the choice of which axons are myelinated is made prior to myelin sheath generation. Here we propose that interactions between axons and the exploratory processes of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) lead to myelination and may be similar to those between dendrites and axons that prefigure and lead to synapse formation. Indeed axons and OPCs form synapses with striking resemblance to those of neurons, suggesting a similar mode of formation. We discuss families of molecules with specific functions at different stages of synapse formation and address studies that implicate the same factors during axon-OPC synapse formation and myelination. We also address the possibility that the function of such synapses might directly regulate the myelinating behavior of oligodendrocyte processes in vivo. In the future it may be of benefit to consider these similarities when taking a candidate-based approach to dissect mechanisms of CNS myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Almeida
- Centre for Neuroregeneration, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; MS Society Centre for Translational Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK.
| | - D A Lyons
- Centre for Neuroregeneration, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; MS Society Centre for Translational Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK.
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