A theoretical molecular network for dyslexia: integrating available genetic findings

Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Apr;16(4):365-82. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.105. Epub 2010 Oct 19.

Abstract

Developmental dyslexia is a common specific childhood learning disorder with a strong heritable component. Previous studies using different genetic approaches have identified several genetic loci and candidate genes for dyslexia. In this article, we have integrated the current knowledge on 14 dyslexia candidate genes suggested by cytogenetic findings, linkage and association studies. We found that 10 of the 14 dyslexia candidate genes (ROBO1, KIAA0319, KIAA0319L, S100B, DOCK4, FMR1, DIP2A, GTF2I, DYX1C1 and DCDC2) fit into a theoretical molecular network involved in neuronal migration and neurite outgrowth. Based on this, we also propose three novel dyslexia candidate genes (SLIT2, HMGB1 and VAPA) from known linkage regions, and we discuss the possible involvement of genes emerging from the two reported genome-wide association studies for reading impairment-related phenotypes in the identified network.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dyslexia / diagnosis
  • Dyslexia / genetics*
  • Genetic Linkage / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / methods
  • Humans
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Psychometrics

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins