title: Impairment of social behavior and communication in mice lacking the Uba6-dependent ubiquitin activation system.
abstract: The Uba6-Use1 ubiquitin enzyme cascade is a poorly understood arm of the ubiquitin-proteasome system required for mouse development. Recently, we reported that Uba6 brain-specific knockout (termed NKO) mice display abnormal social behavior and neuronal development due to a decreased spine density and accumulation of Ube3a and Shank3. To better characterize a potential role for NKO mice in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), we performed a comprehensive behavioral characterization of the social behavior and communication of NKO mice. Our behavioral results confirmed that NKO mice display social impairments, as indicated by fewer vocalizations and decreased social interaction. We conclude that UBA6 NKO mice represent a novel ASD mouse model of anti-social and less verbal behavioral symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Pukyong National University, 45 Yongso-ro, Nam-gu, Busan 608-739, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Minseok
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: pclee@amc.seoul.kr.
authors.forename: Peter C W
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity; D009425:Nesting Behavior; D012919:Social Behavior; D044764:Ubiquitin-Activating Enzymes / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D014828:Vocalization, Animal
chemical_list: C524073:E1-L2 protein, mouse; D044764:Ubiquitin-Activating Enzymes
keywords: Social interaction; Uba6; Ubiquitin; Ultrasonic vocalization; Use1