KensLogo Full 2
Search
Close this search box.

‘Editing’ of RNA may play sizeable role in autism

RNA

A new study suggests that the process of RNA editing may play a significant role in autism. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles found that RNA editing is less common in the brains of autistic individuals compared to typically developing individuals. This lack of RNA editing may be a shared characteristic among different types of autism. Fragile X proteins, FMRP and FXR1P, were found to potentially affect RNA editing and play a significant role in autism.

RNA editing involves specific proteins that modify the RNA sequence after it is produced, potentially giving rise to multiple forms of a protein. Certain RNA editing patterns are known to be altered in autism, but the global landscape of editing changes is not well understood. To address this, the study at UCLA is the first to examine RNA editing on a large scale using multiple patient samples.

The researchers analyzed RNA sequences from postmortem brains of autistic and typical individuals, specifically focusing on the frontal cortex, temporal cortex, and cerebellum. They confirmed previous findings in the frontal cortex using brain tissue from 22 autistic individuals and 23 controls. The results showed that autistic brains had significantly less RNA editing compared to controls when comparing sequences with a reference DNA.

The study also found that differences in editing sites between autism and control brains were particularly apparent in genes linked to autism and neuronal junction formation. The researchers discovered that FMRP protein enhances RNA editing, while FXR1P protein inhibits it. They observed interactions between fragile X proteins and RNA at the editing sites, providing a new perspective on RNA editing.

Furthermore, the study found that individuals with fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder closely associated with autism, exhibited significantly less RNA editing than control brains. Similarly, RNA sequences in brains of individuals with dup15q syndrome, a severe form of autism caused by a deletion on chromosome 15, showed even less editing. The researchers hypothesize that the reduction in RNA editing may correlate with the severity of autism.

To further investigate this hypothesis, the researchers are conducting studies in cultured cells from individuals with various forms of autism. These lab-grown cell studies aim to understand the impact of decreased RNA editing on cell function. Overall, this study sheds light on the importance of RNA editing in autism and the potential role of fragile X proteins in this process.

Link to Original Article

Psychologist

Dr. Kenneth Roberson

Dr. Kenneth Roberson is an Adult Autism Psychologist in San Francisco with over 30 years of experience. Click below to ask a question or schedule an appointment.

The Essential Guide

book cover KR

ADULT ASPERGER’S SYNDROME: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Are you looking for a reference guide about Asperger’s in adults?

Do you have questions you’d like to ask an expert in adult Asperger’s?

Download a Chapter for Free!