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Molecular Autism
Published in: Molecular Autism 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research

Enzymes in the glutamate-glutamine cycle in the anterior cingulate cortex in postmortem brain of subjects with autism

Authors: Chie Shimmura, Katsuaki Suzuki, Yasuhide Iwata, Kenji J Tsuchiya, Koji Ohno, Hideo Matsuzaki, Keiko Iwata, Yosuke Kameno, Taro Takahashi, Tomoyasu Wakuda, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Kenji Hashimoto, Norio Mori

Published in: Molecular Autism | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that dysfunction in the glutamatergic system may underlie the pathophysiology of autism. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been implicated in autism as well as in glutamatergic neurotransmission. We hypothesized that alterations in the glutamate-glutamine cycle in the ACC might play a role in the pathophysiology of autism.

Methods

We performed Western blot analyses for the protein expression levels of enzymes in the glutamate-glutamine cycle, including glutamine synthetase, kidney-type glutaminase, liver-type glutaminase, and glutamate dehydrogenases 1 and 2, in the ACC of postmortem brain of individuals with autism (n = 7) and control subjects (n = 13).

Results

We found that the protein levels of kidney-type glutaminase, but not those of the other enzymes measured, in the ACC were significantly lower in subjects with autism than in controls.

Conclusion

The results suggest that reduced expression of kidney-type glutaminase may account for putative alterations in glutamatergic neurotransmission in the ACC in autism.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Enzymes in the glutamate-glutamine cycle in the anterior cingulate cortex in postmortem brain of subjects with autism
Authors
Chie Shimmura
Katsuaki Suzuki
Yasuhide Iwata
Kenji J Tsuchiya
Koji Ohno
Hideo Matsuzaki
Keiko Iwata
Yosuke Kameno
Taro Takahashi
Tomoyasu Wakuda
Kazuhiko Nakamura
Kenji Hashimoto
Norio Mori
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Autism / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 2040-2392
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-4-6

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