Re-expression of SynGAP protein in adulthood improves translatable measures of brain function and behavior
Thomas K Creson,
Camilo Rojas,
Ernie Hwaun,
Thomas Vaissiere,
Murat Kilinc,
Andres Jimenez-Gomez,
Jimmy Lloyd Holder Jr,
Jianrong Tang,
Laura L Colgin,
Courtney A Miller,
Gavin Rumbaugh
Affiliations
Thomas K Creson
Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
Camilo Rojas
Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
Ernie Hwaun
Department of Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Center for Learning and Memory, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States
Thomas Vaissiere
Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
Murat Kilinc
Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
Andres Jimenez-Gomez
Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Jimmy Lloyd Holder Jr
Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Jianrong Tang
Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
Laura L Colgin
Department of Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Center for Learning and Memory, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States
Courtney A Miller
Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, United States
It remains unclear to what extent neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) risk genes retain functions into adulthood and how they may influence disease phenotypes. SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency causes a severe NDD defined by autistic traits, cognitive impairment, and epilepsy. To determine if this gene retains therapeutically-relevant biological functions into adulthood, we performed a gene restoration technique in a mouse model for SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency. Adult restoration of SynGAP protein improved behavioral and electrophysiological measures of memory and seizure. This included the elimination of interictal events that worsened during sleep. These events may be a biomarker for generalized cortical dysfunction in SYNGAP1 disorders because they also worsened during sleep in the human patient population. We conclude that SynGAP protein retains biological functions throughout adulthood and that non-developmental functions may contribute to disease phenotypes. Thus, treatments that target debilitating aspects of severe NDDs, such as medically-refractory seizures and cognitive impairment, may be effective in adult patients.
