Autism-like behaviours in transgenic monkeys overexpressing MeCP2

by Nicola Brunetti-Pierri

Posted March 30th, 2016 by Nicola Brunetti-Pierri & filed under Part 28: NEUROGENETICS

MECP2 gene is mutated in Rett syndrome and MECP2 duplication is responsible for a severe developmental disorder with autistic phenotypes. A recent work published in Nature reports the generation of MECP2 transgenic monkeys. The transgenic cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) expressing human MeCP2 in the brain exhibit autism-like behaviours and show germline transmission of the transgene. They showed higher frequency of repetitive circular locomotion and increased stress responses. The transgenic monkeys showed less interaction with wild-type monkeys within the same group.

Posted by Nicola Brunetti-Pierri