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Transcriptional Regulation of Synapse Development in Intellectual and Developmental Disorders

Award Number: R01MH111464
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/10/2017
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2023

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Transcriptional Regulation of Synapse Development in Intellectual and Developmental Disorders - Project Summary/Abstract Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are thought to result from in brain synapse dysfunction. Mutations or deletions of the MEF2C gene have been linked recently to several neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, intellectual disability (ID) and schizophrenia (SCZ). Mef2 transcription factors promote activity- dependent, glutamatergic synapse elimination – a possible dysregulated process in autism. We find that Mef2c conditional forebrain knockout (Mef2c cKO) mice display behavioral abnormalities similar to the 3 core features used to diagnose autism in humans, including abnormalities in communication, social interaction, and repetitive motor behaviors. Surprisingly, we observed a significant increase in inhibitory (GABAergic) and a decrease in excitatory (glutamatergic) synapse density and strength, which suggests the hypothesis that Mef2c functions as an activity-regulated transcriptional repressor to control the balance of inhibitory and excitatory synapses in developing cortical neurons. Loss of Mef2c repressor function promotes excitatory synapse elimination and increases inhibitory synapse density, which results in numerous behaviors with potential relevance to autism, ID and SCZ. In this revised grant proposal, we seek to extend our extensive preliminary findings to explore the role and regulation of Mef2c in cortical synapse development and in behaviors associated with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Aim 1. In this aim, we will use well-established behavioral assays in the lab to analyze social interaction, communication, repetitive behaviors, reward, anxiety, and learning and memory tests in Mef2c cKO mice. Aim 2. In this aim, we will take a multi-pronged approach in culture and in vivo to analyze the role of Mef2c in the regulation of excitatory and inhibitory synapse density and function. We will test the hypothesis that Mef2c functions cell-autonomously as a transcriptional repressor to regulate glutamatergic synapse elimination and GABAergic synapse formation/stabilization, and it does so in an activity-dependent, homeostatic, negative feedback mechanism that promotes inhibition and reduces excitation. Aim 3. In this aim, we will extend our preliminary findings with HTS-CLIP and RNA-seq to assess the role of Pcdh17, an newly identified common MEF2/FMRP target gene, in Mef2c-induced excitatory synapse elimination and inhibitory synapse formation in cortical pyramidal neurons in culture and in vivo.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$9,993 )
2024	2021	THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	179 ASHLEY AVE	CHARLESTON	SC	29425	CHARLESTON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	2/2/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$9,993
														Subtotal = -$9,993

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $373,750 )
2021	2021	MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA THE	179 ASHLEY AVE	CHARLESTON	SC	29425	CHARLESTON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	5/13/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$373,750
														Subtotal = $373,750

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $373,750 )
2020	2020	MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA THE	179 ASHLEY AVE	CHARLESTON	SC	29425	CHARLESTON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	5/21/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$373,750
														Subtotal = $373,750

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $747,500 )
2019	2019	MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	179 ASHLEY AVE	CHARLESTON	SC	29425	CHARLESTON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	7/30/2019	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$373,750
2019	2019	MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	179 ASHLEY AVE	CHARLESTON	SC	29425	CHARLESTON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	5/14/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$373,750
														Subtotal = $747,500

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $373,750 )
2018	2018	MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	179 ASHLEY AVE	CHARLESTON	SC	29425	CHARLESTON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	5/14/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$373,750
														Subtotal = $373,750

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $373,750 )
2017	2017	MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	179 ASHLEY AVE	CHARLESTON	SC	29425	CHARLESTON	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	8/8/2017	NEW	$373,750
														Subtotal = $373,750

Grand Total All Awards = $2,232,507

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Transcriptional Regulation of Synapse Development in Intellectual and Developmental Disorders

Award Number: R01MH111464

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/10/2017

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2023

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