The 60 trillion cells that comprise our bodies communicate
constantly. Information travels when
chemical compounds released by some cells are received by receptors in the
membrane of another cell. In a paper published in the Journal of Neuroscience,
the OIST Cell Signal Unit, led by Professor Tadashi Yamamoto, reported that
mice lacking an intracellular trafficking protein called LMTK3, are
hyperactive. Hyperactivity is a
behavioral disorder that shows symptoms including restlessness, lack of
coordination, and aggressive behavior. Identifying the genetic factors that
contribute to such behaviors may help to explain the pathological mechanisms
underlying autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, in
humans.