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Griggs JL, Sinnayah P, Mathai ML. Prader–Willi syndrome: From genetics to behaviour, with special focus on appetite treatments. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 59:155-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Davis BA, Isles AR. Modelling the genetic contribution to mental illness: a timely end for the psychiatric rodent? Eur J Neurosci 2014; 39:1933-42. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A. Davis
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute; Cardiff University; Hadyn Ellis Building Maindy Road Cardiff CF24 4HQ UK
| | - Anthony R. Isles
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute; Cardiff University; Hadyn Ellis Building Maindy Road Cardiff CF24 4HQ UK
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Chien WH, Gau SSF, Liao HM, Chiu YN, Wu YY, Huang YS, Tsai WC, Tsai HM, Chen CH. Deep exon resequencing of DLGAP2 as a candidate gene of autism spectrum disorders. Mol Autism 2013; 4:26. [PMID: 23915500 PMCID: PMC3751063 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We recently reported a terminal deletion of approximately 2.4 Mb at chromosome 8p23.2-pter in a boy with autism. The deleted region contained the DLGAP2 gene that encodes the neuronal post-synaptic density protein, discs, large (Drosophila) homolog-associated protein 2. The study aimed to investigate whether DLGAP2 is genetically associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in general. Methods We re-sequenced all the exons of DLGPA2 in 515 patients with ASD and 596 control subjects from Taiwan. We also conducted bioinformatic analysis and family study of variants identified in this study. Results We detected nine common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and sixteen novel missense rare variants in this sample. We found that AA homozygotes of rs2906569 (minor allele G, alternate allele A) at intron 1 (P = 0.003) and CC homozygotes of rs2301963 (minor allele A, alternate allele C) at exon 3 (P = 0.0003) were significantly over-represented in the patient group compared to the controls. We also found no differences in the combined frequency of rare missense variants between the two groups. Some of these rare variants were predicted to have an impact on the function of DLGAP2 using informatics analysis, and the family study revealed most of the rare missense mutations in patients were inherited from their unaffected parents. Conclusions We detected some common and rare genetic variants of DLGAP2 that might have implication in the pathogenesis of ASD, but they alone may not be sufficient to lead to clinical phenotypes. We suggest that further genetic or environmental factors in affected patients may be present and determine the clinical manifestations. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT00494754
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Hsien Chien
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
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Mosca-Boidron AL, Valduga M, Thauvin-Robinet C, Lagarde N, Marle N, Henry C, Pinoit JM, Huet F, Béri-Deixheimer M, Ragon C, Gueneau L, Payet M, Callier P, Mugneret F, Jonveaux P, Faivre L. Additional evidence to support the role of the 20q13.33 region in susceptibility to autism. Am J Med Genet A 2013; 161A:1505-7. [PMID: 23613186 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.35878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Bushman DM, Chun J. The genomically mosaic brain: aneuploidy and more in neural diversity and disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2013; 24:357-69. [PMID: 23466288 PMCID: PMC3637860 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2013.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Revised: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Genomically identical cells have long been assumed to comprise the human brain, with post-genomic mechanisms giving rise to its enormous diversity, complexity, and disease susceptibility. However, the identification of neural cells containing somatically generated mosaic aneuploidy - loss and/or gain of chromosomes from a euploid complement - and other genomic variations including LINE1 retrotransposons and regional patterns of DNA content variation (DCV), demonstrate that the brain is genomically heterogeneous. The precise phenotypes and functions produced by genomic mosaicism are not well understood, although the effects of constitutive aberrations, as observed in Down syndrome, implicate roles for defined mosaic genomes relevant to cellular survival, differentiation potential, stem cell biology, and brain organization. Here we discuss genomic mosaicism as a feature of the normal brain as well as a possible factor in the weak or complex genetic linkages observed for many of the most common forms of neurological and psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane M. Bushman
- Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Department, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jerold Chun
- Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Department, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
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Identification of rare recurrent copy number variants in high-risk autism families and their prevalence in a large ASD population. PLoS One 2013; 8:e52239. [PMID: 23341896 PMCID: PMC3544904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural variation is thought to play a major etiological role in the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and numerous studies documenting the relevance of copy number variants (CNVs) in ASD have been published since 2006. To determine if large ASD families harbor high-impact CNVs that may have broader impact in the general ASD population, we used the Affymetrix genome-wide human SNP array 6.0 to identify 153 putative autism-specific CNVs present in 55 individuals with ASD from 9 multiplex ASD pedigrees. To evaluate the actual prevalence of these CNVs as well as 185 CNVs reportedly associated with ASD from published studies many of which are insufficiently powered, we designed a custom Illumina array and used it to interrogate these CNVs in 3,000 ASD cases and 6,000 controls. Additional single nucleotide variants (SNVs) on the array identified 25 CNVs that we did not detect in our family studies at the standard SNP array resolution. After molecular validation, our results demonstrated that 15 CNVs identified in high-risk ASD families also were found in two or more ASD cases with odds ratios greater than 2.0, strengthening their support as ASD risk variants. In addition, of the 25 CNVs identified using SNV probes on our custom array, 9 also had odds ratios greater than 2.0, suggesting that these CNVs also are ASD risk variants. Eighteen of the validated CNVs have not been reported previously in individuals with ASD and three have only been observed once. Finally, we confirmed the association of 31 of 185 published ASD-associated CNVs in our dataset with odds ratios greater than 2.0, suggesting they may be of clinical relevance in the evaluation of children with ASDs. Taken together, these data provide strong support for the existence and application of high-impact CNVs in the clinical genetic evaluation of children with ASD.
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Schwartzer JJ, Koenig CM, Berman RF. Using mouse models of autism spectrum disorders to study the neurotoxicology of gene-environment interactions. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2012; 36:17-35. [PMID: 23010509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2012.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
To better study the role of genetics in autism, mouse models have been developed which mimic the genetics of specific autism spectrum and related disorders. These models have facilitated research on the role genetic susceptibility factors in the pathogenesis of autism in the absence of environmental factors. Inbred mouse strains have been similarly studied to assess the role of environmental agents on neurodevelopment, typically without the complications of genetic heterogeneity of the human population. What has not been as actively pursued, however, is the methodical study of the interaction between these factors (e.g., gene and environmental interactions in neurodevelopment). This review suggests that a genetic predisposition paired with exposure to environmental toxicants plays an important role in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, and may contribute to the largely unexplained rise in the number of children diagnosed with autism worldwide. Specifically, descriptions of the major mouse models of autism and toxic mechanisms of prevalent environmental chemicals are provided followed by a discussion of current and future research strategies to evaluate the role of gene and environment interactions in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared J Schwartzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95618, United States.
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The molecular genetics of autism spectrum disorders: genomic mechanisms, neuroimmunopathology, and clinical implications. AUTISM RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2011; 2011:398636. [PMID: 22937247 PMCID: PMC3420760 DOI: 10.1155/2011/398636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have become increasingly common in recent years. The discovery of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and accompanying copy number variations within the genome has increased our understanding of the architecture of the disease. These genetic and genomic alterations coupled with epigenetic phenomena have pointed to a neuroimmunopathological mechanism for ASD. Model animal studies, developmental biology, and affective neuroscience laid a foundation for dissecting the neural pathways impacted by these disease-generating mechanisms. The goal of current autism research is directed toward a systems biological approach to find the most basic genetic and environmental causes to this severe developmental disease. It is hoped that future genomic and neuroimmunological research will be directed toward finding the road toward prevention, treatment, and cure of ASD.
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Moreno-De-Luca D, Mulle JG, Kaminsky EB, Sanders SJ, Myers SM, Adam MP, Pakula AT, Eisenhauer NJ, Uhas K, Weik L, Guy L, Care ME, Morel CF, Boni C, Salbert BA, Chandrareddy A, Demmer LA, Chow EW, Surti U, Aradhya S, Pickering DL, Golden DM, Sanger WG, Aston E, Brothman AR, Gliem TJ, Thorland EC, Ackley T, Iyer R, Huang S, Barber JC, Crolla JA, Warren ST, Martin CL, Ledbetter DH, Warren ST, Martin CL, Ledbetter DH. Deletion 17q12 is a recurrent copy number variant that confers high risk of autism and schizophrenia. Am J Hum Genet 2010; 87:618-30. [PMID: 21055719 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2010] [Revised: 09/23/2010] [Accepted: 10/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia are neurodevelopmental disorders for which recent evidence indicates an important etiologic role for rare copy number variants (CNVs) and suggests common genetic mechanisms. We performed cytogenomic array analysis in a discovery sample of patients with neurodevelopmental disorders referred for clinical testing. We detected a recurrent 1.4 Mb deletion at 17q12, which harbors HNF1B, the gene responsible for renal cysts and diabetes syndrome (RCAD), in 18/15,749 patients, including several with ASD, but 0/4,519 controls. We identified additional shared phenotypic features among nine patients available for clinical assessment, including macrocephaly, characteristic facial features, renal anomalies, and neurocognitive impairments. In a large follow-up sample, the same deletion was identified in 2/1,182 ASD/neurocognitive impairment and in 4/6,340 schizophrenia patients, but in 0/47,929 controls (corrected p = 7.37 × 10⁻⁵). These data demonstrate that deletion 17q12 is a recurrent, pathogenic CNV that confers a very high risk for ASD and schizophrenia and show that one or more of the 15 genes in the deleted interval is dosage sensitive and essential for normal brain development and function. In addition, the phenotypic features of patients with this CNV are consistent with a contiguous gene syndrome that extends beyond RCAD, which is caused by HNF1B mutations only.
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Chien WH, Gau SSF, Wu YY, Huang YS, Fang JS, Chen YJ, Soong WT, Chiu YN, Chen CH. Identification and molecular characterization of two novel chromosomal deletions associated with autism. Clin Genet 2010; 78:449-56. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2010.01395.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Bremer A, Giacobini M, Nordenskjöld M, Brøndum-Nielsen K, Mansouri M, Dahl N, Anderlid B, Schoumans J. Screening for copy number alterations in loci associated with autism spectrum disorders by two-color multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2010; 153B:280-5. [PMID: 19319887 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogenous condition characterized by impaired socialization and communication in association with stereotypic behaviors. ASD is highly heritable and heterogeneous with a complex genetic etiology. Recurrent submicroscopic deletions or duplications have been identified in a subgroup of individuals with ASD using array technology. Adequate genetic testing for these genomic imbalances have not yet been widely implemented in the diagnostic setting due to lack of feasible and cost-effective methods as well as difficulties to interpret the clinical significance of these small copy number variants (CNVs). We developed a multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) assay to investigate its usefulness for detection of copy number alterations (CNAs) in autistic patients. This test proved to be easy to perform, fast, cost-effective, and suitable for reliable detection of multiple loci in a single reaction. We screened 148 autistic patients for 15 different loci covering 26 genes and found a 15q11-13 interstitial duplication that had escaped detection by conventional karyotyping in 1.3% of the patients. Synthetic probe MLPA allows for a flexible analysis of a continuously increasing number of CNAs associated with autism. Our result show that MLPA assay is an easy and cost-effective method for the identification of selected CNAs in diagnostic laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bremer
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Schendel D, Rice C, Cunniff C. The contribution of rare diseases to understanding the epidemiology of neurodevelopmental disabilities. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2010; 686:433-53. [PMID: 20824459 DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-9485-8_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Our objective is to describe the contribution of rare diseases to our understanding of the epidemiology of neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs) by comparing and contrasting the epidemiologic features of NDDs classified according to key characteristics of developmental delay or deviance in such areas as behavior or cognition (the phenotypic approach; autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability as examples) versus classification based on the identification of an etiologic diagnosis (the etiologic approach; 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and fragile X syndrome as examples). We suggest specific applications in which consideration of rare etiology-based NDDs might further our understanding of NDD epidemiology overall; what is needed to integrate the two classification approaches; and identify practical challenges in achieving that integration. Understanding commonalities and differences in the epidemiologic features of the phenotypically and etiologically defined NDD classifications provides a useful framework for furthering our understanding of the prevalence, distribution, and causes of NDDs, as well as delivering appropriate diagnostic resources, appropriate treatments, accurate prognostic information, and estimates of recurrence risk for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Schendel
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
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Chao YL, Chien WH, Liao HM, Fang JS, Chen CH. Copy Number Variations and Psychiatric Disorders. Tzu Chi Med J 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s1016-3190(09)60039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Kumar RA, Sudi J, Babatz TD, Brune CW, Oswald D, Yen M, Nowak NJ, Cook EH, Christian SL, Dobyns WB. A de novo 1p34.2 microdeletion identifies the synaptic vesicle gene RIMS3 as a novel candidate for autism. J Med Genet 2009; 47:81-90. [PMID: 19546099 PMCID: PMC2921284 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.2008.065821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Background A child with autism and mild microcephaly was found to have a de novo 3.3 Mb microdeletion on chromosome 1p34.2p34.3. The hypothesis is tested that this microdeletion contains one or more genes that underlie the autism phenotype in this child and in other children with autism spectrum disorders. Methods To search for submicroscopic chromosomal rearrangements in the child, array comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) was performed using a 19 K whole genome human bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) array and the Illumina 610-Quad BeadChip microarray. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was used to construct functional biological networks to identify candidate autism genes. To identify putative functional variants in candidate genes, mutation screening was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based Sanger sequencing in 512 unrelated autism patients and 462 control subjects. Results A de novo 3.3 Mb deletion containing ∼43 genes in chromosome 1p34.2p34.3 was identified and subsequently confirmed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Literature review and bioinformatics analyses identified Regulating Synaptic Membrane Exocytosis 3 (RIMS3) as the most promising autism candidate gene. Mutation screening of this gene in autism patients identified five inherited coding variants, including one (p.E177A) that segregated with the autism phenotype in a sibship, was predicted to be deleterious, and was absent in 1161 controls. Conclusions This case report and mutation screening data suggest that RIMS3 is an autism causative or contributory gene. Functional studies of RIMS3 variants such as p.E177A should provide additional insight into the role of synaptic proteins in the pathophysiology of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinesh A Kumar
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago,Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
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Kumar RA, Marshall CR, Badner JA, Babatz TD, Mukamel Z, Aldinger KA, Sudi J, Brune CW, Goh G, KaraMohamed S, Sutcliffe JS, Cook EH, Geschwind DH, Dobyns WB, Scherer SW, Christian SL. Association and mutation analyses of 16p11.2 autism candidate genes. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4582. [PMID: 19242545 PMCID: PMC2644762 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2008] [Accepted: 01/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism is a complex childhood neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis. Microdeletion or duplication of a ∼500–700-kb genomic rearrangement on 16p11.2 that contains 24 genes represents the second most frequent chromosomal disorder associated with autism. The role of common and rare 16p11.2 sequence variants in autism etiology is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings To identify common 16p11.2 variants with a potential role in autism, we performed association studies using existing data generated from three microarray platforms: Affymetrix 5.0 (777 families), Illumina 550 K (943 families), and Affymetrix 500 K (60 families). No common variants were identified that were significantly associated with autism. To look for rare variants, we performed resequencing of coding and promoter regions for eight candidate genes selected based on their known expression patterns and functions. In total, we identified 26 novel variants in autism: 13 exonic (nine non-synonymous, three synonymous, and one untranslated region) and 13 promoter variants. We found a significant association between autism and a coding variant in the seizure-related gene SEZ6L2 (12/1106 autism vs. 3/1161 controls; p = 0.018). Sez6l2 expression in mouse embryos was restricted to the spinal cord and brain. SEZ6L2 expression in human fetal brain was highest in post-mitotic cortical layers, hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus. Association analysis of SEZ6L2 in an independent sample set failed to replicate our initial findings. Conclusions/Significance We have identified sequence variation in at least one candidate gene in 16p11.2 that may represent a novel genetic risk factor for autism. However, further studies are required to substantiate these preliminary findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinesh A. Kumar
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Christian R. Marshall
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genomic Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Judith A. Badner
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Timothy D. Babatz
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Zohar Mukamel
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, The Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Kimberly A. Aldinger
- Committee on Neurobiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jyotsna Sudi
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Camille W. Brune
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Juvenile Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Gerald Goh
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Samer KaraMohamed
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - James S. Sutcliffe
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Edwin H. Cook
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Juvenile Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Daniel H. Geschwind
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology and Center for Autism Research and Treatment, The Semel Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - William B. Dobyns
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Stephen W. Scherer
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, The Centre for Applied Genomics and Program in Genetics and Genomic Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan L. Christian
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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Asher JE, Lamb JA, Brocklebank D, Cazier JB, Maestrini E, Addis L, Sen M, Baron-Cohen S, Monaco AP. A whole-genome scan and fine-mapping linkage study of auditory-visual synesthesia reveals evidence of linkage to chromosomes 2q24, 5q33, 6p12, and 12p12. Am J Hum Genet 2009; 84:279-85. [PMID: 19200526 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2009.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2008] [Revised: 12/06/2008] [Accepted: 01/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Synesthesia, a neurological condition affecting between 0.05%-1% of the population, is characterized by anomalous sensory perception and associated alterations in cognitive function due to interference from synesthetic percepts. A stimulus in one sensory modality triggers an automatic, consistent response in either another modality or a different aspect of the same modality. Familiality studies show evidence of a strong genetic predisposition; whereas initial pedigree analyses supported a single-gene X-linked dominant mode of inheritance with a skewed F:M ratio and a notable absence of male-to-male transmission, subsequent analyses in larger samples indicated that the mode of inheritance was likely to be more complex. Here, we report the results of a whole-genome linkage scan for auditory-visual synesthesia with 410 microsatellite markers at 9.05 cM density in 43 multiplex families (n = 196) with potential candidate regions fine-mapped at 5 cM density. Using NPL and HLOD analysis, we identified four candidate regions. Significant linkage at the genome-wide level was detected to chromosome 2q24 (HLOD = 3.025, empirical genome-wide p = 0.047). Suggestive linkage was found to chromosomes 5q33, 6p12, and 12p12. No support was found for linkage to the X chromosome; furthermore, we have identified two confirmed cases of male-to-male transmission of synesthesia. Our results demonstrate that auditory-visual synesthesia is likely to be an oligogenic disorder subject to multiple modes of inheritance and locus heterogeneity. This study comprises a significant step toward identifying the genetic substrates underlying synesthesia, with important implications for our understanding of the role of genes in human cognition and perception.
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Genomic imprinting and disorders of the social brain; shades of grey rather than black and white. Behav Brain Sci 2008. [DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x08004263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractCrespi & Badcock (C&B) provide a novel hypothesis outlining a role for imprinted genes in mediating brain functions underlying social behaviours. The basic premise is that maternally expressed genes are predicted to promote hypermentalistic behaviours, and paternally expressed genes hypomentalistic behaviours. The authors provide a detailed overview of data supporting their ideas, but as we discuss, caution should be applied in interpreting these data.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are among the most heritable of all neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite intense research there has been limited success in deciphering the etiology of ASDs. OBJECTIVE It has been shown that chromosomal rearrangements play an important role in ASDs. The recent development of techniques to screen the genome for genetic variation at ever-higher resolution has led to some crucial discoveries over the last year. This progress is described and discussed. METHODS This review provides an overview of genetic variation studies in ASD, with a focus on structural genetic variation. RESULTS/CONCLUSION Screening for copy number variation is an important approach in ASD research. With the introduction of next-generation sequencing, the pace of ASD genetics will increase in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Feuk
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, 101 College Street, MaRS - East Tower, Rm 14-701, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada +1 416 813 7654 ext 1358 ; +1 416 813 8319 ;
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