Excitatory neuron-specific suppression of the integrated stress response contributes to autism-related phenotypes in fragile X syndrome

Mehdi Hooshmandi, Vijendra Sharma, Carolina Thörn Perez, Rapita Sood, Konstanze Krimbacher, Calvin Wong, Kevin C. Lister, Alba Ureña Guzmán, Trevor D. Bartley, Cecilia Rocha, Gilles Maussion, Emma Nadler, Patricia Margarita Roque, Ilse Gantois, Jelena Popic, Maxime Lévesque, Randal J. Kaufman, Massimo Avoli, Elisenda Sanz, Karim NaderRandi Jenssen Hagerman, Thomas M. Durcan, Mauro Costa-Mattioli, Masha Prager-Khoutorsky, Jean Claude Lacaille, Veronica Martinez-Cerdeno, Jay R. Gibson, Kimberly M. Huber, Nahum Sonenberg, Christos G. Gkogkas, Arkady Khoutorsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dysregulation of protein synthesis is one of the key mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the role of a major pathway controlling protein synthesis, the integrated stress response (ISR), in ASD remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the main arm of the ISR, eIF2α phosphorylation (p-eIF2α), is suppressed in excitatory, but not inhibitory, neurons in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome (FXS; Fmr1−/y). We further show that the decrease in p-eIF2α is mediated via activation of mTORC1. Genetic reduction of p-eIF2α only in excitatory neurons is sufficient to increase general protein synthesis and cause autism-like behavior. In Fmr1−/y mice, restoration of p-eIF2α solely in excitatory neurons reverses elevated protein synthesis and rescues autism-related phenotypes. Thus, we reveal a previously unknown causal relationship between excitatory neuron-specific translational control via the ISR pathway, general protein synthesis, and core phenotypes reminiscent of autism in a mouse model of FXS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3028-3040.e6
JournalNeuron
Volume111
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 4 2023

Keywords

  • autism
  • fragile X syndrome
  • integrated stress response
  • mRNA translation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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