Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. As of now, there are limited effective therapies to help individuals manage the core symptoms of ASD. The diversity of genetic factors underlying ASD risk highlights the need to shift our focus from one-size fits all therapeutics to more tailored, individualized therapies. Recently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled researchers to identify de novo (newly appearing in the child) loss of function mutations in many important brain development genes, including genes with in multiple mutations in unrelated children. These findings provide strong evidence for recurrently mutated genes playing a significant role in ASD risk and indicate that heterozygous disruption of a single gene essential for brain development is sufficient to cause autism. TBR1, a transcription factor that serves as a `master regulator' in brain development, is one such gene of particular interest. TBR1 is mutated in ~0.2% of children with ASD, making it one of the most common risk factors. Computational analyses using biologic network approaches suggest that, despite the genetic complexity, converging biology at particular developmental windows and brain regions may be at play in genetic subsets of ASD. Specifically, the co-expression of high confidence risk genes converge at midfetal stages of cortical development, where TBR1 is thought to play a key role in the differentiation, migration, and function of deep layer glutamatergic cortical projection neurons. Moreover, it is now clear that TBR1 also binds to and regulates ~1/3 of other high confidence autism risk genes, making it a potential `master regulator' of at least one emerging common autism etiology. Evaluating the functional consequences of specific mutations represents a critical step in validating and understanding the causal link between genotype and phenotype and designing rational targeted therapies/interventions. We hypothesize that loss of a single copy of TBR1 disrupts human cortical development by altering the TBR1-regulated network required for proper neuronal identity and migration. Moreover, disrupting TBR1 or its target genes during this critical developmental window of ASD risk define a common route to ASD. We previously confirmed that de novo mutations severely impacted the localization and ability of mutant TBR1 proteins to regulate target genes. Here, we will address the current gaps in our knowledge of how patient-specific TBR1 mutations affect developing neurons by utilizing cutting-edge genome editing, functional genomics, and complementary models that leverage patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) converted to forebrain-like organoids (Aim 1) and mouse genetics (Aim 2). These studies will provide an unprecedented view into the consequences of TBR1 patient-specific mutations on neurons during cortical development. Moreover, this iPSC/mouse genetics platform can be expanded to other risk genes and be the basis for designing rational targeted therapies/interventions for ASD and related disorders.
/PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE STATEMENT The diversity of genetic factors underlying autism spectrum disorder risk highlights the need to shift our focus from one-size fits all therapeutics to more tailored, individualized therapies. We are developing cutting-edge patient-specific models of an important ASD risk gene, TBR1, which is also a master regulator of other ASD risk and brain development genes. These studies will provide an unprecedented view into the consequences of TBR1 mutations on neurons during development, bring new understanding to this emerging common cause of ASD, and will be of great value for future identification and testing of pharmacological interventions for ASD and related disorders.
