Juvenile Shank3b deficient mice present with behavioral phenotype relevant to autism spectrum disorder.

ABSTRACT: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive, multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed according to deficits in three behavioral domains: communication, social interaction, and stereotyped/repetitive behaviors. Mutations in Shank genes account for ∼1% of clinical ASD cases with Shank3 being the most common gene variant. In addition to maintaining synapses and facilitating dendritic maturation, Shank genes encode master scaffolding proteins that build core complexes in the postsynaptic densities of glutamatergic synapses. Male mice with a deletion of the PDZ domain of Shank3 (Shank3B KO) were previously shown to display ASD-like behavioral phenotypes with reported self-injurious repetitive grooming and aberrant social interactions. Our goal was to extend these previous findings

SUBMITTER: Balaan C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6247805 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature