Project description:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease with complex heterogeneity and aberrations in multiple levels of neurobiology. Recently, our understanding of the molecular abnormalities in ASD has been greatly expanded through transcriptomic analyses of postmortem brains. However, a crucial molecular pathway involved in synaptic development, RNA editing, has not yet been studied on a genome-wide scale. Here we profiled the global patterns of adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing in a large cohort of ASD cortices and cerebella. Strikingly, we observed a global bias of hypoediting in ASD brains, common to different brain regions and involving many genes with critical neurological function. The large-scale RNA editing changes allowed us to reveal novel insights of RNA editing regulation. Through genome-wide protein-RNA binding analyses and detailed molecular assays, we show that the Fragile X proteins, FMRP and FXR1P, interact with ADAR protens and modulate A-to-I editing. Furthermore, we observed convergent patterns of RNA editing alterations between ASD and Fragile X syndrome, thus establishing RNA editing as a novel molecular link underlying these two highly related diseases. Our findings support a role for RNA editing dysregulation in ASD pathophysiology and highlight novel mechanisms for RNA editing regulation.
Project description:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease with complex heterogeneity and aberrations in multiple levels of neurobiology. Recently, our understanding of the molecular abnormalities in ASD has been greatly expanded through transcriptomic analyses of postmortem brains. However, a crucial molecular pathway involved in synaptic development, RNA editing, has not yet been studied on a genome-wide scale. Here we profiled the global patterns of adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing in a large cohort of ASD cortices and cerebella. Strikingly, we observed a global bias of hypoediting in ASD brains, common to different brain regions and involving many genes with critical neurological function. The large-scale RNA editing changes allowed us to reveal novel insights of RNA editing regulation. Through genome-wide protein-RNA binding analyses and detailed molecular assays, we show that the Fragile X proteins, FMRP and FXR1P, interact with ADAR protens and modulate A-to-I editing. Furthermore, we observed convergent patterns of RNA editing alterations between ASD and Fragile X syndrome, thus establishing RNA editing as a novel molecular link underlying these two highly related diseases. Our findings support a role for RNA editing dysregulation in ASD pathophysiology and highlight novel mechanisms for RNA editing regulation.
Project description:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease with complex heterogeneity and aberrations in multiple levels of neurobiology. Recently, our understanding of the molecular abnormalities in ASD has been greatly expanded through transcriptomic analyses of postmortem brains. However, a crucial molecular pathway involved in synaptic development, RNA editing, has not yet been studied on a genome-wide scale. Here we profiled the global patterns of adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing in a large cohort of ASD cortices and cerebella. Strikingly, we observed a global bias of hypoediting in ASD brains, common to different brain regions and involving many genes with critical neurological function. The large-scale RNA editing changes allowed us to reveal novel insights of RNA editing regulation. Through genome-wide protein-RNA binding analyses and detailed molecular assays, we show that the Fragile X proteins, FMRP and FXR1P, interact with ADAR protens and modulate A-to-I editing. Furthermore, we observed convergent patterns of RNA editing alterations between ASD and Fragile X syndrome, thus establishing RNA editing as a novel molecular link underlying these two highly related diseases. Our findings support a role for RNA editing dysregulation in ASD pathophysiology and highlight novel mechanisms for RNA editing regulation.
Project description:In order to unveil the molecular mechanisms at play during the development of autistic brains, we studied cells that are representative of the very early stages of ontogenesis, namely stem cells. We used nasal olfactory stem cells that are readily accessible and can be biopsied safely. We recruited a relatively homogeneous cohort of nine adults with severe autism and low to very low developmental disabilities, and included two more adults with either Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, to enlarge the spectrum. The cohort was then paired with 11 age- and gender-matched control individuals. Stem cells were purified, banked and used for a transcriptomic study. Two-colors experiment. The cohort was then paired with 11 age- and gender-matched control individuals. Stem cells were purified, banked and used for a transcriptomic study. Validation by reverse transcription design.
Project description:In order to unveil the molecular mechanisms at play during the development of autistic brains, we studied cells that are representative of the very early stages of ontogenesis, namely stem cells. We used nasal olfactory stem cells that are readily accessible and can be biopsied safely. We recruited a relatively homogeneous cohort of nine adults with severe autism and low to very low developmental disabilities, and included two more adults with either Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, to enlarge the spectrum. The cohort was then paired with 11 age- and gender-matched control individuals. Stem cells were purified, banked and used for a transcriptomic study.