Grant: Operating Grant

Dysregulated translational control leads to pathological conditions like cancer, obesity, memory impairment and has been hypothesized to cause Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD); namely through hyperconnectivity of neuronal circuits. Synaptic connections are regulated by translation, thus impaired translational control is postulated to cause ASD. We will study the role of regulation of protein synthesis in the development of autism-like behaviors and in the maintenance of the transmission of information in neurons of mouse models of ASD. To this end we will develop advanced mouse models of proteins that are cardinal in the regulation of protein synthesis and take advantage of compounds designed to modulate protein synthesis. The data from this project can assist in the design of novel therapeutic strategies to modulate ASD-associated behaviors.