Key genetic finding for autism

The preliminary results from the largest genome scan ever conducted in autism research reveals the discovery of a previously unidentified region of chromosome 11, and neurexin 1, a member of a family of genes believed to be important in neuronal contact and communication. The neurexin finding highlights a special group of neurons, called glutamate neurons, and the genes affecting their development and function, suggesting they play a critical role in autism spectrum disorders.

This research was performed by more than 120 scientists from over 50 institutions representing 19 nations who formed a first-of-its-kind autism genetics consortium, the Autism Genome Project. Participating from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, were Thomas Wassink, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, and Val Sheffield, professor in the Department of Pediatrics and a specialist with Children's Hospital of Iowa.

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"This is exciting news because we have now narrowed the search area on the human genome. The neurexin finding, in particular, has emerged from contributions made by the Iowa autism research team, and we are spearheading the neurexin follow-up work. We thus have a much better idea about where to look for factors that might make a child susceptible to developing an autistic disorder," Wassink explains. "Now we can move forward to more precisely pinpoint those genes, which may eventually help us develop better treatments for the disorder."

Building on their previous success, the researchers will apply state-of-the-art "gene chip" technologies to scan the genome for association with the new genetic markers, as well as submicroscopic copy number variations along chromosomes in autism.

Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and it often is accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 166 children in the U.S., affecting four times as many boys as girls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, has called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning