Key enzymes are found to have a ‘profound effect’ across
dozens of genes linked to autism. The insight could help illuminate
environmental factors behind autism spectrum disorder and contribute to a
unified theory of how the disorder develops.
Problems with a key group of enzymes called topoisomerases
can have profound effects on the genetic machinery behind brain development and
potentially lead to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to research
announced today in the journal Nature. Scientists at the University of North
Carolina School of Medicine have described a finding that represents a
significant advance in the hunt for environmental factors behind autism and
lends new insights into the disorder’s genetic causes.