Shank2 Behaviour Original.pzfx

The family of SHANK proteins have been shown to be critical in regulating glutamatergic synaptic structure, function, and plasticity. SHANK variants are also prevalent in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), where glutamatergic synaptopathology has been shown to occur in multiple ASD mouse models. Our previous work has shown that dietary zinc in Shank3-/- and Tbr1+/- ASD mouse models can reverse or prevent ASD behavioural and synaptic deficits. Here we have examined whether dietary zinc can influence behavioural and synaptic function in Shank2-/- mice. Our data show dietary zinc supplementation can reverse hyperactivity and social preference behaviour in Shank2-/- mice, but it does not alter deficits in working memory. Consistent with this, at the synaptic level deficits in NMDA/AMPA receptor-mediated transmission are also not rescued by dietary zinc. In contrast to other ASD models examined, we observed that SHANK3 protein was highly expressed at the synapses of Shank2-/- mice, and that dietary zinc returned these to wildtype levels. Overall our data show that dietary zinc has differential effectiveness in altering ASD behaviours and synaptic function across ASD mouse models even within the Shank family.