Posted on

The Transcription Factor Song

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Very rarely are scientists able to look at single genes within the brains of people across neuropsychiatric disorders and understand how the genes in each of these cells influence expression of proteins and interactions of different cells with each other. Recently, a collaboration called PsychENCODE released a series of papers that investigated what genes are expressed in what cells in autism in different situations, how cells that communicate interact with more support or glial cells, and what mechanisms are in place to identify ways in which the broad environment (chemicals, contextual factors, illness) may influence gene expression leading to disorders like autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This podcast summarizes these papers as they are related to autism – ore at least tries to.

https://www.psychencode.org/phase-ii

Posted on

Understanding the brains of people with autism with Daniel Geschwind, MD, PhD

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

This week’s ASF podcast is a special treat – Dr. Daniel Geschwind from UCLA provides an understanding of the brains of people with autism, focusing on those with a mutation in chromosome 15.  He goes over how they are similar and different (teaser: they are more similar) and answers questions from families about how this research is important for helping improve the lives of people across the spectrum.

Posted on

Reusing and recycling autism data from brain tissue

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

In a new study in animal models, researchers demonstrate how genetic variability in key risk genes leads to different brain development patterns.  Studying the brains of people with autism is challenging, since there are fewer resources to study.  However, scientists get creative and collaborative and re-analyze datasets previously published to look at different research questions.  That’s what happened this week in a collaboration between Brown University and UCLA, showing that as the activity of genes which controls the synapse goes down, so do genes affecting mitochondrial function.  Another brain tissue study showed that the stress of the endoplasmic reticulum, which is associated with the mitochondria, may be elevated.  Not all research data can be re-purposed again, which is why it is so important to study the brains of people with autism.  If you would like to learn more, go to www.takesbrains.org/signup

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29859039

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29761862

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29901787

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29926239