"In this manuscript, we show that ankyrin-B (Ank2) is essential for scaffolding NaV1.2 (Scn2a) to the dendritic membrane of mouse neocortical neurons, and that haploinsufficiency of Ank2 phenocopies intrinsic dendritic excitability and synaptic deficits observed in Scn2a+/-conditions. These results establish a direct, convergent link between two major autism spectrum disorder risk genes and reinforce an emerging framework suggesting that neocortical pyramidal cell dendritic dysfunction can contribute to neurodevelopmental disorder pathophysiology."
Pictured: Dr. Paul Jenkins, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Psychiatry, University of Michigan) with members of his lab.