Functional changes at synaptic contact sites in the Central Nervous System are considered to be responsible for some forms of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Recent experiments with mice lacking the synaptic protein ProSAP1/Shank2 support this hypothesis. Especially molecular imbalances at the glutamatergic synapse seem to play a key role. These findings could have important implications for future ASD-therapies. An international research group led by Professor Tobias Böckers and Dr. Michael Schmeisser from the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology of Ulm University has just published the results in the highly renowned journal “Nature”. Scientists of distinguished institutions such as “Institut Pasteur” (Paris) and “Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin” have contributed to the paper “Autistic-like behaviours and hyperactivity in mice lacking ProSAP1/Shank2“. 
Michael J. Schmeisser, Elodie Ey, Stephanie Wegener, Juergen Bockmann, A. Vanessa Stempel, Angelika Kuebler, Anna-Lena Janssen, Patrick T. Udvardi, Ehab Shiban, Christina Spilker, Detlef Balschun, Boris V. Skryabin, Susanne tom Dieck, Karl-Heinz Smalla, Dirk Montag, Claire S. Leblond, Philippe Faure, Nicolas Torquet, Anne-Marie Le Sourd, Roberto Toro, Andreas M. Grabrucker, Sarah A. Shoichet, Dietmar Schmitz, Michael R. Kreutz,Thomas Bourgeron, Eckart D. Gundelfinger & Tobias M. Boeckers: Autistic-like behaviours and hyperactivity in mice lacking ProSAP1/Shank2. doi:10.1038/nature1101
Nature paper on "Autistic-like behaviours and hyperactivity in mice lacking ProSAP1/Shank2" published
Universität Ulm Universität Ulm
Congratulations to our PhD students Dr. Michael Schmeisser, Anna-Lena Janssen and Patrick T. Udvardi for their contributions to this paper.