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Review
. 2022 May 19;18(1):7.
doi: 10.1186/s12993-022-00191-7.

Connecting DCX, COMT and FMR1 in social behavior and cognitive impairment

Anna Delprato  1 , Emily Xiao #  2   3 , Devika Manoj #  2   4
Affiliations
Review

Connecting DCX, COMT and FMR1 in social behavior and cognitive impairment

Anna Delprato et al. Behav Brain Funct. .

Abstract

Genetic variants of DCX, COMT and FMR1 have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders related to intellectual disability and social behavior. In this systematic review we examine the roles of the DCX, COMT and FMR1 genes in the context of hippocampal neurogenesis with respect to these disorders with the aim of identifying important hubs and signaling pathways that may bridge these conditions. Taken together our findings indicate that factors connecting DCX, COMT, and FMR1 in intellectual disability and social behavior may converge at Wnt signaling, neuron migration, and axon and dendrite morphogenesis. Data derived from genomic research has identified a multitude of genes that are linked to brain disorders and developmental differences. Information about where and how these genes function and cooperate is lagging behind. The approach used here may help to shed light on the biological underpinnings in which key genes interface and may prove useful for the testing of specific hypotheses.

Keywords: COMT; DCX; FMR1; Hippocampus; Intellectual disability; Neurogenesis; Social behavior; Wnt signaling.

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Conflict of interest statement

Not applicable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
DCX, COMT, and FMRP PPI network. A topological evaluation of PPI networks of DCX, COMT, and FMRP indicates that DCX and FMRP networks are highly interconnected, whereas the COMT network is peripherally associated with the DCX network through second shell interactions. Red lines represent first shell interactions which are proteins directly associated with DCX, COMT, and FMRP. Gray lines indicate second shell interactions which are proteins linked with the other proteins in the first shell i.e., not DCX, COMT, or FMR1P
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Functional enrichment of DCX, COMT, and FMRP correlates linked to neurogenesis Neurogenesis related gene correlates were further evaluated for functional associations in the context of biological process and pathway integration. Enriched themes include axon guidance, axiogenesis, cell projection and dendritic processes. Red stars indicate functional enrichment themes with particular relevance to the study. Colors are chosen arbitrarily for distinction and to depict overlap.
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