title: The Autism Related Protein Contactin-Associated Protein-Like 2 (CNTNAP2) Stabilizes New Spines: An In Vivo Mouse Study.
abstract: The establishment and maintenance of neuronal circuits depends on tight regulation of synaptic contacts. We hypothesized that CNTNAP2, a protein associated with autism, would play a key role in this process. Indeed, we found that new dendritic spines in mice lacking CNTNAP2 were formed at normal rates, but failed to stabilize. Notably, rates of spine elimination were unaltered, suggesting a specific role for CNTNAP2 in stabilizing new synaptic circuitry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gdalyahu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, Program in Neurogenetics and Neurobehavioral Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, Program in Neurogenetics and Neurobehavioral Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Penagarikano
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, Program in Neurogenetics and Neurobehavioral Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Golshani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Joshua T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Trachtenberg
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Geschwind
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, Program in Neurogenetics and Neurobehavioral Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gescwind
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C568163:CNTNAP2 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins