New insights in pathological mechanism that causes dysfunctional synapses
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 - 14:30
in Biology & Nature
Genetic analysis of human patients has shown that mutations in genes involved in synaptic communication can drive neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases such as autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. Through a global analysis of the synaptic machinery, researchers have revealed for the first time a new pathway that governs the proper sorting of many essential synaptic proteins in neurons. Disruption of this sorting pathway in neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases severely hampers the efficient communication between neurons.