Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects neuronal development and causes physical and intellectual disabilities. In patients with Angelman syndrome, a gene called Ube3a does not function well, which prevents synapse elimination during their development. However, abnormally high Ube3a leads to autism spectrum disorders. Researchers from the University of Tokyo now reveal how Ube3a E3 ligase eliminates unnecessary synapses in the presynaptic neurons. In doing so, they suggest a new mechanism for how genetic mutations and unusual doses of Ube3a lead to synaptic defects involved in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Aggression de-escalation gene identified in fruit flies - Salk Institute for Biological Studies salk.edu - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from salk.edu Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Aggression de-escalation gene identified in fruit flies scienceblog.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from scienceblog.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.