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Research Articles, Neurobiology of Disease

Cnksr2 Loss in Mice Leads to Increased Neural Activity and Behavioral Phenotypes of Epilepsy-Aphasia Syndrome

Eda Erata, Yudong Gao, Alicia M. Purkey, Erik J. Soderblom, James O. McNamara and Scott H. Soderling
Journal of Neuroscience 17 November 2021, 41 (46) 9633-9649; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0650-21.2021
Eda Erata
1Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710
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Yudong Gao
1Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710
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Alicia M. Purkey
1Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710
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Erik J. Soderblom
1Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710
3Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
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James O. McNamara
2Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710
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Scott H. Soderling
1Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710
2Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina 27710
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Abstract

Epilepsy Aphasia Syndromes (EAS) are a spectrum of childhood epileptic, cognitive, and language disorders of unknown etiology. CNKSR2 is a strong X-linked candidate gene implicated in EAS; however, there have been no studies of genetic models to dissect how its absence may lead to EAS. Here we develop a novel Cnksr2 KO mouse line and show that male mice exhibit increased neural activity and have spontaneous electrographic seizures. Cnksr2 KO mice also display significantly increased anxiety, impaired learning and memory, and a progressive and dramatic loss of ultrasonic vocalizations. We find that Cnksr2 is expressed in cortical, striatal, and cerebellar regions and is localized at both excitatory and inhibitory postsynapses. Proteomics analysis reveals Cnksr2 anchors key binding partners at synapses, and its loss results in significant alterations of the synaptic proteome, including proteins implicated in epilepsy disorders. Our results validate that loss of CNKSR2 leads to EAS and highlights the roles of Cnksr2 in synaptic organization and neuronal network activity.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Epilepsy Aphasia Syndromes (EAS) are at the severe end of a spectrum of cognitive-behavioral symptoms seen in childhood epilepsies, and they remain an inadequately understood disorder. The prognosis of EAS is frequently poor, and patients have life-long language and cognitive disturbances. Here we describe a genetic mouse model of EAS, based on the KO of the EAS risk gene Cnksr2. We show that these mice exhibit electrophysiological and behavioral phenotypes similar to those of patients, providing an important new model for future studies of EAS. We also provide insights into the molecular disturbances downstream of Cnksr2 loss by using in vivo quantitative proteomics tools.

  • aphasia
  • Cnksr2
  • EEG
  • epilepsy
  • HiUGE
  • proteomics

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The Journal of Neuroscience: 41 (46)
Journal of Neuroscience
Vol. 41, Issue 46
17 Nov 2021
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Cnksr2 Loss in Mice Leads to Increased Neural Activity and Behavioral Phenotypes of Epilepsy-Aphasia Syndrome
Eda Erata, Yudong Gao, Alicia M. Purkey, Erik J. Soderblom, James O. McNamara, Scott H. Soderling
Journal of Neuroscience 17 November 2021, 41 (46) 9633-9649; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0650-21.2021

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Cnksr2 Loss in Mice Leads to Increased Neural Activity and Behavioral Phenotypes of Epilepsy-Aphasia Syndrome
Eda Erata, Yudong Gao, Alicia M. Purkey, Erik J. Soderblom, James O. McNamara, Scott H. Soderling
Journal of Neuroscience 17 November 2021, 41 (46) 9633-9649; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0650-21.2021
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Keywords

  • aphasia
  • Cnksr2
  • EEG
  • epilepsy
  • HiUGE
  • proteomics

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