title: MET receptor tyrosine kinase as an autism genetic risk factor.
abstract: In this chapter, we will briefly discuss recent literature on the role of MET receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) in brain development and how perturbation of MET signaling may alter normal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Recent human genetic studies have established MET as a risk factor for autism, and the molecular and cellular underpinnings of this genetic risk are only beginning to emerge from obscurity. Unlike many autism risk genes that encode synaptic proteins, the spatial and temporal expression pattern of MET RTK indicates this signaling system is ideally situated to regulate neuronal growth, functional maturation, and establishment of functional brain circuits, particularly in those brain structures involved in higher levels of cognition, social skills, and executive functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huentelman
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Shenfeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C491743:MET protein, human; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Brain circuits; Hepatocyte growth factor; MET receptor tyrosine kinase; Neurodevelopment; Risk gene; Synaptic connectivity