Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish
Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like many neurodevelopmental disorders, has complex and varied etiologies. Advances in genome sequencing have identified multiple candidate genes associated with ASD, including dozens of missense and nonsense mutations in the NMDAR subunit GluN2B,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Molecular Autism |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00516-3 |
| _version_ | 1811264908327649280 |
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| author | Josiah D. Zoodsma Emma J. Keegan Gabrielle R. Moody Ashwin A. Bhandiwad Amalia J. Napoli Harold A. Burgess Lonnie P. Wollmuth Howard I. Sirotkin |
| author_facet | Josiah D. Zoodsma Emma J. Keegan Gabrielle R. Moody Ashwin A. Bhandiwad Amalia J. Napoli Harold A. Burgess Lonnie P. Wollmuth Howard I. Sirotkin |
| author_sort | Josiah D. Zoodsma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like many neurodevelopmental disorders, has complex and varied etiologies. Advances in genome sequencing have identified multiple candidate genes associated with ASD, including dozens of missense and nonsense mutations in the NMDAR subunit GluN2B, encoded by GRIN2B. NMDARs are glutamate-gated ion channels with key synaptic functions in excitatory neurotransmission. How alterations in these proteins impact neurodevelopment is poorly understood, in part because knockouts of GluN2B in rodents are lethal. Methods Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9 to generate zebrafish lacking GluN2B (grin2B −/− ). Using these fish, we run an array of behavioral tests and perform whole-brain larval imaging to assay developmental roles and functions of GluN2B. Results We demonstrate that zebrafish GluN2B displays similar structural and functional properties to human GluN2B. Zebrafish lacking GluN2B (grin2B −/− ) surprisingly survive into adulthood. Given the prevalence of social deficits in ASD, we assayed social preference in the grin2B −/− fish. Wild-type fish develop a strong social preference by 3 weeks post fertilization. In contrast, grin2B −/− fish at this age exhibit significantly reduced social preference. Notably, the lack of GluN2B does not result in a broad disruption of neurodevelopment, as grin2B −/− larvae do not show alterations in spontaneous or photic-evoked movements, are capable of prey capture, and exhibit learning. Whole-brain imaging of grin2B −/− larvae revealed reduction of an inhibitory neuron marker in the subpallium, a region linked to ASD in humans, but showed that overall brain size and E/I balance in grin2B −/− is comparable to wild type. Limitations Zebrafish lacking GluN2B, while useful in studying developmental roles of GluN2B, are unlikely to model nuanced functional alterations of human missense mutations that are not complete loss of function. Additionally, detailed mammalian homologies for larval zebrafish brain subdivisions at the age of whole-brain imaging are not fully resolved. Conclusions We demonstrate that zebrafish completely lacking the GluN2B subunit of the NMDAR, unlike rodent models, are viable into adulthood. Notably, they exhibit a highly specific deficit in social behavior. As such, this zebrafish model affords a unique opportunity to study the roles of GluN2B in ASD etiologies and establish a disease-relevant in vivo model for future studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:13:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9259b7d1d3a848e6991b30c900ffaa4d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2040-2392 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:13:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Autism |
| spelling | doaj.art-9259b7d1d3a848e6991b30c900ffaa4d2022-12-22T03:18:12ZengBMCMolecular Autism2040-23922022-09-0113111710.1186/s13229-022-00516-3Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafishJosiah D. Zoodsma0Emma J. Keegan1Gabrielle R. Moody2Ashwin A. Bhandiwad3Amalia J. Napoli4Harold A. Burgess5Lonnie P. Wollmuth6Howard I. Sirotkin7Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook UniversityGraduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook UniversityDivision of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentGraduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook UniversityDivision of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentDepartment of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook UniversityAbstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like many neurodevelopmental disorders, has complex and varied etiologies. Advances in genome sequencing have identified multiple candidate genes associated with ASD, including dozens of missense and nonsense mutations in the NMDAR subunit GluN2B, encoded by GRIN2B. NMDARs are glutamate-gated ion channels with key synaptic functions in excitatory neurotransmission. How alterations in these proteins impact neurodevelopment is poorly understood, in part because knockouts of GluN2B in rodents are lethal. Methods Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9 to generate zebrafish lacking GluN2B (grin2B −/− ). Using these fish, we run an array of behavioral tests and perform whole-brain larval imaging to assay developmental roles and functions of GluN2B. Results We demonstrate that zebrafish GluN2B displays similar structural and functional properties to human GluN2B. Zebrafish lacking GluN2B (grin2B −/− ) surprisingly survive into adulthood. Given the prevalence of social deficits in ASD, we assayed social preference in the grin2B −/− fish. Wild-type fish develop a strong social preference by 3 weeks post fertilization. In contrast, grin2B −/− fish at this age exhibit significantly reduced social preference. Notably, the lack of GluN2B does not result in a broad disruption of neurodevelopment, as grin2B −/− larvae do not show alterations in spontaneous or photic-evoked movements, are capable of prey capture, and exhibit learning. Whole-brain imaging of grin2B −/− larvae revealed reduction of an inhibitory neuron marker in the subpallium, a region linked to ASD in humans, but showed that overall brain size and E/I balance in grin2B −/− is comparable to wild type. Limitations Zebrafish lacking GluN2B, while useful in studying developmental roles of GluN2B, are unlikely to model nuanced functional alterations of human missense mutations that are not complete loss of function. Additionally, detailed mammalian homologies for larval zebrafish brain subdivisions at the age of whole-brain imaging are not fully resolved. Conclusions We demonstrate that zebrafish completely lacking the GluN2B subunit of the NMDAR, unlike rodent models, are viable into adulthood. Notably, they exhibit a highly specific deficit in social behavior. As such, this zebrafish model affords a unique opportunity to study the roles of GluN2B in ASD etiologies and establish a disease-relevant in vivo model for future studies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00516-3NMDA receptorsGluN2BAutism spectrum disordersSocial behaviors |
| spellingShingle | Josiah D. Zoodsma Emma J. Keegan Gabrielle R. Moody Ashwin A. Bhandiwad Amalia J. Napoli Harold A. Burgess Lonnie P. Wollmuth Howard I. Sirotkin Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish Molecular Autism NMDA receptors GluN2B Autism spectrum disorders Social behaviors |
| title | Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish |
| title_full | Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish |
| title_fullStr | Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish |
| title_short | Disruption of grin2B, an ASD-associated gene, produces social deficits in zebrafish |
| title_sort | disruption of grin2b an asd associated gene produces social deficits in zebrafish |
| topic | NMDA receptors GluN2B Autism spectrum disorders Social behaviors |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00516-3 |
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