title: Analysis of the genes encoding neuroligins NLGN3 and NLGN4 in Bulgarian patients with autism.
abstract: Many studies have supported a genetic aetiology for autism. Neuroligins are postsynaptically located cell-adhesion molecules. Mutations in two X-linked neuroligin genes, NLGN3 and NLGN4, have been implicated in pathogenesis of autism. In order to confirm these causative mutations in our autistic population and to determine their frequency we screened 20 individuals affected with autism. We identified one patient with a point mutation in NLGN4 gene that substituted a Met for Thr 787 - c.2360C > T, p.(Thr787Met) and three patients with identical polymorphisms in the same gene: c.933C > T, p.(Thr311Thr) in combination with c.[1777C > T+1779C > G, p.(Leu593Leu)]. All patients tested for NLGN3 mutations were negative. These results indicate that mutations in these genes are responsible for at most a small fraction of autism cases.
authors: Department of Clinical Genetics, University Pediatric Hospital, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria. davdjieva@yahoo.com
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Avdjieva-Tzavella
authors: T P
authors: TP
authors: Todorov
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Todorova
authors: A V
authors: AV
authors: Kirov
authors: S P
authors: SP
authors: Hadjidekova
authors: B B
authors: BB
authors: Rukova
authors: I O
authors: IO
authors: Litvinenko
authors: D N
authors: DN
authors: Hristova-Naydenova
authors: R S
authors: RS
authors: Tincheva
authors: D I
authors: DI
authors: Toncheva
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D002031:Bulgaria; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C430845:NLGN4X protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C098004:neuroligin 3