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Table 1 Description of genes selected for short-hairpin (sh)RNA knockdown and linkage to ASD

From: Transcriptomic analysis of genetically defined autism candidate genes reveals common mechanisms of action

Gene

Function

Cellular localization

Genetic evidence

Reference

Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (Mecp2)

Transcriptional repressor

Nuclear

Causes Rett syndrome, which shares some symptom domains with autism

[37]

Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2a (Mef2a)

Transcription factor

Nuclear

Rare single gene mutation in downstream targets associated with Autism symptom domains

[32]

Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2d (Mef2d)

Transcription factor

Nuclear

Rare single gene mutation in downstream targets associated with Autism symptom domains

[32]

Fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1)

RNA binding protein

Nuclear

Causes Fragile X, which shares some symptom domains with autism

[38]

Neuroligin-1 (Nlgn1)

Synaptic remodeling

Synaptic

Rare single gene mutation associated with autism symptom domains

[30]

Neuroligin-3 (Nlgn3)

Synaptic remodeling

Synaptic

Rare single gene mutation associated with autism symptom domains

[31]

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten)

Regulator of the cell cycle

Nuclear and synaptic

Causes Cowden syndrome which shares some symptom domains with autism

[26, 39]

SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (Shank3)

Scaffold protein

Synaptic

Rare single gene mutation associated with autism symptom domains

[12, 29]