title: The emerging role of SHANK genes in neuropsychiatric disorders.
abstract: The genetic heterogeneity of neuropsychiatric disorders is high, but some pathways emerged, notably synaptic functioning. A large number of mutations have been described in genes such as neuroligins, neurexins, and SHANK that play a role in the formation and the maintenance of synapses. This review focuses on the disorders associated with mutations in SHANK3 and the other members of its family, SHANK1 and SHANK2. SHANKs are scaffolding proteins of the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic synapses. SHANK3 has been described in the Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), but also in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia associated to moderate to severe intellectual disability (ID) and poor language. The evolution of patients with PMS includes symptoms of bipolar disorder and regression. SHANK2 has been identified in patients with ASD with mild to severe ID. SHANK1 has been associated with high-functioning autism in male patients, while carrier females only display anxiety and shyness. Finally, based on neuropathological findings in animal models and patients, a possible role of SHANK in Alzheimer's disease is discussed. Altogether, this review describes the clinical trajectories associated with different mutations of the SHANK genes and provides information to further investigate the role of the SHANK genes in neuropsychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; CNRS URA 2182 'Genes, Synapses and Cognition,' Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guilmatre
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huguet
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delorme
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bourgeron
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C574178:SHANK1 protein, human; C122162:SHANK2 protein, human; C492357:SHANK3 protein, human
keywords: Phelan-McDermid syndrome; SHANK; neuropsychiatric disorders