Recent genetic and genomic studies have identified a large number of candidate genes for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), many of which encode synaptic proteins, suggesting synaptic dysfunction may play a critical role in ASDs. One of the most promising ASD candidate genes is Shank3. Shank family proteins (Shank1-3) directly bind SAPAP to form the PSD95/SAPAP/Shank complex. This core of proteins is thought to function as a scaffold, orchestrating the assembly of the macromolecular postsynaptic signaling complex. They have been proposed to play important roles in trafficking and anchoring of postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors and the development of glutamatergic synapses. Shank3 is the only member of the Shank family highly expressed in the striatum, a brain region strongly implicated in ASDs. To investigate the in vivo function of Shank3 at synapses and to elucidate how a disruption of Shank3 may lead to ASDs, we generated Shank3 mutant mice. We found that disruption of Shank3 resulted in both structural and functional changes in cortico-striatal synapses. Furthermore, Shank3 mutant mice exhibit compulsive/repetitive behavior and impaired social interaction, which resemble two of the cardinal features of ASDs. Together, our studies demonstrate a critical role for Shank3 in cortico-striatal synaptic structure and function n vivo and establish causality between a disruption in the Shank3 gene and the genesis of autistic like-behaviors in mice. Thus, the Shank3 mutant mice provide us with an excellent opportunity to dissect the neural circuitry mechanisms underlying the abnormal behaviors relevant to human ASD. We propose to combine genetic, optogenetic, electrophysiological and behavioral approaches to achieve the following goals: (1) To investigate the intrastriatal microcircuitry dysfunction in Shank3 mutant mice. (2) To determine the relative contributions of the direct and indirect pathway of the basal ganglia in repetitive behavior. (3) To dissect neural circuits involved in social interaction deficits in Shank3 mutant mice. Together, these studies may significantly enhance our understanding of neural circuitry mechanisms of autistic-like behaviors and may help to develop novel strategies for more effective treatment.

Public Health Relevance

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of common and devastating neurodevelopmental disorders. Currently, there is no effective treatment for ASDs. The goal of this research is to use mutant mice as a model system to elucidate the pathological mechanisms of ASDs. These studies could lead to better understanding of neural mechanisms underlying ASD-like behaviors and the identification of potential targets for the development of effective treatments.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
4R01MH097104-05
Application #
9115240
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Asanuma, Chiiko
Project Start
2012-09-01
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2016-07-01
Budget End
2017-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
001425594
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Monteiro, Patricia; Feng, Guoping (2017) SHANK proteins: roles at the synapse and in autism spectrum disorder. Nat Rev Neurosci 18:147-157
Wang, Wenting; Li, Chenchen; Chen, Qian et al. (2017) Striatopallidal dysfunction underlies repetitive behavior in Shank3-deficient model of autism. J Clin Invest 127:1978-1990
Lu, C; Chen, Q; Zhou, T et al. (2016) Micro-electrode array recordings reveal reductions in both excitation and inhibition in cultured cortical neuron networks lacking Shank3. Mol Psychiatry 21:159-68
Zhou, Yang; Kaiser, Tobias; Monteiro, Patrícia et al. (2016) Mice with Shank3 Mutations Associated with ASD and Schizophrenia Display Both Shared and Distinct Defects. Neuron 89:147-62
Monteiro, Patricia; Feng, Guoping (2016) Learning From Animal Models of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 79:7-16
Wells, Michael F; Wimmer, Ralf D; Schmitt, L Ian et al. (2016) Thalamic reticular impairment underlies attention deficit in Ptchd1(Y/-) mice. Nature 532:58-63
Kaiser, T; Ting, J T; Monteiro, P et al. (2016) Transgenic labeling of parvalbumin-expressing neurons with tdTomato. Neuroscience 321:236-245
Mei, Yuan; Monteiro, Patricia; Zhou, Yang et al. (2016) Adult restoration of Shank3 expression rescues selective autistic-like phenotypes. Nature 530:481-4
Barak, Boaz; Feng, Guoping (2016) Neurobiology of social behavior abnormalities in autism and Williams syndrome. Nat Neurosci 19:647-655
Burguière, Eric; Monteiro, Patricia; Mallet, Luc et al. (2015) Striatal circuits, habits, and implications for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Curr Opin Neurobiol 30:59-65

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