http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Synapse development is promoted by a variety of cell adhesion molecules that connect neurons and organize synaptic proteins. Many of these adhesion molecules are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders; mutations in neuroligin and neurexin proteins, for example, are associated with autism and schizophrenia. According to a study in The Journal of Cell Biology, another family of proteins linked to these disorders regulates the function of neuroligins and neurexins in order to suppress the development of inhibitory synapses. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-protein-family-linked-autism-suppresses.html Medical research Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:00:05 EST news278584054 A new study combines genetic and neurobiological approaches to confirm that synaptic mutations increase the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It also highlights a role for modifier genes in these disorders. Published in PLoS Genetics, this research was conducted by researchers at the Institut Pasteur, the Paris Diderot University, the Robert Debré Hospital, the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry centre, Ulm University and the Centre National de Genotypage, in collaboration with other institutions in Europe. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-role-synaptic-proteins-autism-spectrum.html Autism spectrum disorders Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:10 EST news248008732