Summary: Using CRISPR gene editing technology, researchers target the Shank3 gene in monkey embryos. Research backs previous findings of the importance of the Shank3 gene for brain development and its role in autism.

Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Autism is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior or interests. The reported prevalence of autism has been rising worldwide. Due to the application of large-scale exome sequencing in recent years, hundreds of novel autism-associated genes have been identified.

Mutations in SHANK3 remain one of the best characterized and replicated genetic defects associated with autism in humans. Genetically modified Shank3 mutant mice have served as valuable tools to dissect the pathophysiology of SHANK3 as related to autism. However, the significant evolutionary differences between the mouse and human brain and associated behaviors pose many challenges to assessing the translational value of mouse models in relation to humans, and highlight the need to develop non-human primate models.

Recently, researchers from Dr. ZHANG Yongqing’s group at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) found neurodevelopmental abnormality in a SHANK3-deficient non-human primate for the first time.

Using CRISPR/Cas9 to target the SHANK3 gene in the embryos of cynomolgus monkeys, the researchers successfully generated three mutant monkey offspring with various deleterious mutations in the SHANK3 gene. They analyzed the targeted mutations in various tissues from the three animals, as well as various brain regions of the deceased animals by immunochemical analysis.

Complete SHANK3 deficiency resulted in a significant reduction in postsynaptic proteins such as GluN2B, PSD95, mGluR5 and increased cytosolic localization of Homer1b/c. The number of mature neurons was markedly reduced but activated astrocytes were increased in the prefrontal cortex in the SHANK3-deficient brain. The neuropathology caused by the complete loss of SHANK3 in the monkey brain is remarkably distinct from findings reported from Shank3 knockout mice.

These findings indicate that SHANK3 is essential for the early development of primate brains. Understanding the novel role of SHANK3 in early brain development is critical to the autism field.

About this neuroscience research article

This work is a product of substantial collaboration between teams led by Drs. LI Xiaojiang (CAS), JIANG Yonghui (Duke University Medical Center), LU Youming (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), and Yuanxi Biotech Inc., Guangzhou.

Funding: Funding provided by Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Source: Zhang Yongqing – Chinese Academy of Sciences

Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.

Original Research: Abstract for “Altered neurogenesis and disrupted expression of synaptic proteins in prefrontal cortex of SHANK3-deficient non-human primate” by Hui Zhao, Zhuchi Tu, Huijuan Xu, Sen Yan, Huanhuan Yan, Yinghui Zheng, Weili Yang, Jiezhao Zheng, Zhujun Li, Rui Tian, Youming Lu, Xiangyu Guo, Yong-hui Jiang, Xiao-Jiang Li and Yong Q Zhang in Cell Research. Published online August 14 2017 doi:10.1038/cr.2017.95

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]Chinese Academy of Sciences “CRISPR Advances Autism Research.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 18 August 2017.

<https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-crispr-shank3-7331/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]Chinese Academy of Sciences (2017, August 18). CRISPR Advances Autism Research. NeuroscienceNew. Retrieved August 18, 2017 from https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-crispr-shank3-7331/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]Chinese Academy of Sciences “CRISPR Advances Autism Research.” https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-crispr-shank3-7331/ (accessed August 18, 2017).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]

Abstract

Altered neurogenesis and disrupted expression of synaptic proteins in prefrontal cortex of SHANK3-deficient non-human primate

Despite substantial progress made toward understanding the molecular changes contributing to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the neuropathophysiology underlying ASD remains poorly understood. Structural brain imaging in humans is valuable, but lacks resolution at the cellular level.

“Altered neurogenesis and disrupted expression of synaptic proteins in prefrontal cortex of SHANK3-deficient non-human primate” by Hui Zhao, Zhuchi Tu, Huijuan Xu, Sen Yan, Huanhuan Yan, Yinghui Zheng, Weili Yang, Jiezhao Zheng, Zhujun Li, Rui Tian, Youming Lu, Xiangyu Guo, Yong-hui Jiang, Xiao-Jiang Li and Yong Q Zhang in Cell Research. Published online August 14 2017 doi:10.1038/cr.2017.95

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