Balancing Act: Maintaining Amino Acid Levels in the Autistic Brain

• Published in: Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 93; no. 3; pp. 476 - 479
• Main Authors: Maynard, Thomas M., Manzini, M. Chiara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 08.02.2017; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: amino acid transport; Amino Acids; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; autism spectrum disorder; Autistic Disorder; blood brain barrier; Brain; brain metabolism; branched amino acids; Dehydrogenases; Genes; Genetic engineering; Homeostasis; Kinases; Metabolism; mTor; Mutation; Neurons; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Urine; blood brain barrier; brain metabolism; mTor; protein synthesis; autism spectrum disorder; branched amino acids; amino acid transport
• ISSN: 0896-6273; 1097-4199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.01.015

The ever-expanding number of genes that are mutated in autism is showing us how imbalances in fundamental cellular processes can lead to disease. A recent study by Tărlungeanu et al. (2016) identifies a form of ASD resulting from a failure of the brain to properly import amino acids. The ever-expanding number of genes that are mutated in autism is showing us how imbalances in fundamental cellular processes can lead to disease. A recent study by Tărlungeanu et al. (2016) identifies a form of ASD resulting from a failure of the brain to properly import amino acids.