Dissecting the Role of Neuroligins in Cognition

Grant number: 1083334 | Funding period: 2015 - 2018

Completed

Abstract

Problems in learning, memory and other complex mental processes are common to many brain disorders. This project will study the impact of mutations on a family of genes reported in autism and schizophrenia, on complex cognitive behaviours using novel behavioural technologies. This will not only shed fundamental insights into the specific mental processes regulated by these genes and their role in disease, but importantly provide novel targets for the development of therapies.

Related publications (7)

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Postsynaptic Neuroligin-1 Mediates Presynaptic Endocytosis During Neuronal Activity

JK Luo, H Melland, J Nithianantharajah, SL Gordon

2021-10-08

Fast, high-fidelity neurotransmission and synaptic efficacy requires tightly regulated coordination of pre- and postsynaptic compa..

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Learning and reaction times in mouse touchscreen tests are differentially impacted by mutations in genes encoding postsynaptic interacting proteins SYNGAP1, NLGN3, DLGAP1, DLGAP2 and SHANK2

AE Horner, RH Norris, R McLaren-Jones, L Alexander, NH Komiyama, SGN Grant, J Nithianantharajah, MV Kopanitsa

2021-01-01

The postsynaptic terminal of vertebrate excitatory synapses contains a highly conserved multiprotein complex that comprises neurot..

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A molecular insight into the dissociable regulation of associative learning and motivation by the synaptic protein neuroligin-1

J Luo, JM Tan, J Nithianantharajah

2020-09-14

BACKGROUND: In a changing environment, a challenge for the brain is to flexibly guide adaptive behavior towards survival. Complex ..

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Colonic dilation and altered ex vivo gastrointestinal motility in the neuroligin-3 knockout mouse

AJL Leembruggen, GK Balasuriya, J Zhang, S Schokman, K Swiderski, JC Bornstein, J Nithianantharajah, EL Hill-Yardin

2020-05-01

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is commonly reported by people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; autism) but the cau..

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Altered Caecal Neuroimmune Interactions in the Neuroligin-3R451C Mouse Model of Autism

SS Sharna, GK Balasuriya, S Hosie, J Nithianantharajah, AE Franks, EL Hill-Yardin

2020-04-09

The intrinsic nervous system of the gut interacts with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) via bidirectional neuroimmune int..

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Mutations in neuroligin-3 in male mice impact behavioral flexibility but not relational memory in a touchscreen test of visual transitive inference

Rebecca HC Norris, Leonid Churilov, Anthony J Hannan, Jess Nithianantharajah

2019-01-01

Cognitive dysfunction including disrupted behavioral flexibility is central to neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectru..

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Neurodevelopmental synaptopathies: Insights from behaviour in rodent models of synapse gene mutations

J Luo, RH Norris, SL Gordon, J Nithianantharajah

2018-06-08

The genomic revolution has begun to unveil the enormous complexity and heterogeneity of the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental di..

University of Melbourne Researchers