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Mutations causing syndromic autism define an axis of synaptic pathophysiology

Nature volume 480, pages 63–68 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Tuberous sclerosis complex and fragile X syndrome are genetic diseases characterized by intellectual disability and autism. Because both syndromes are caused by mutations in genes that regulate protein synthesis in neurons, it has been hypothesized that excessive protein synthesis is one core pathophysiological mechanism of intellectual disability and autism. Using electrophysiological and biochemical assays of neuronal protein synthesis in the hippocampus of Tsc2+/− and Fmr1−/y mice, here we show that synaptic dysfunction caused by these mutations actually falls at opposite ends of a physiological spectrum. Synaptic, biochemical and cognitive defects in these mutants are corrected by treatments that modulate metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in opposite directions, and deficits in the mutants disappear when the mice are bred to carry both mutations. Thus, normal synaptic plasticity and cognition occur within an optimal range of metabotropic glutamate-receptor-mediated protein synthesis, and deviations in either direction can lead to shared behavioural impairments.

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Figure 1: Tsc2 +/− mice have a specific deficit in mGluR-LTD.
Figure 2: Excessive mTOR activity suppresses the protein-synthesis-dependent component of mGluR-LTD.
Figure 3: Positive modulation of mGluR5 reverses synaptic and behavioural deficits in Tsc2 +/− mice.
Figure 4: Genetic cross of Tsc2 +/−andFmr1 −/y mice rescues synaptic and behavioural impairments present in both single mutants.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partly supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH-082718 and T32-MH-074249), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (2R01HD046943), the Department of Defense (W81XWH-11-1-0252) and The Simons Foundation. We acknowledge A. Heynen for advice and comments, as well as K. Oram, E. Sklar and S. Meagher for technical and administrative assistance. Monoclonal Arc antibody was a gift from P. Worley.

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  1. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

    Benjamin D. Auerbach, Emily K. Osterweil & Mark F. Bear

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  1. Benjamin D. Auerbach
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  2. Emily K. Osterweil
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  3. Mark F. Bear
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Contributions

M.F.B. designed, directed and coordinated the project. B.D.A. designed and performed electrophysiological recordings and behaviour tests. E.K.O. designed and performed biochemistry experiments.

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Correspondence to Mark F. Bear.

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M.F.B. has a financial interest in Seaside Therapeutics, Inc.

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Auerbach, B., Osterweil, E. & Bear, M. Mutations causing syndromic autism define an axis of synaptic pathophysiology. Nature 480, 63–68 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10658

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