Loss of a Single Protein Derails Brain Development and Drives Autism-Like Behavior in Mice
Bioengineer.org
Loss of the protein UBAP2L in neural stem cells disrupts brain development and leads to autism-like behaviors in mice, providing direct evidence of its critical role in healthy cortical construction. The study demonstrates that UBAP2L is functionally required during embryonic brain development, as its absence results in structural brain abnormalities and behavioral deficits resembling autism spectrum disorder. The findings link rare human genetic variants of UBAP2L to neurodevelopmental disorders by showing the protein's essential role in cortical neuron production and organization.
All articles from 5 October 2026. Summaries are AI-generated and may contain errors; the linked article is the authority.