The Huganir lab reports in Science
The Huganir lab reports in Science the discovery of a candidate gene linking synapse formation and language development. SRPX2 was a secreted protein identified in a high throughput screen for synaptogenic molecules. SRPX2 promotes excitatory synapse formation under the control of the language-associated transcription factor FOXP2. Loss of SRPX2 impairs synapse formation and ultrasonic vocalization in mice, indicating that this may represent a pathway crucial for circuit formation underlying language development.
Sia, G.M., Clem, R. L., Huganir, R.L. (2013) The human language-associated gene SRPX2 regulates synapse formation and vocalization in mice. Science 2013: Vol. 342 no. 6161 pp. 987-991; DOI: 10.1126/science.1245079
In the news:
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6161/944.full
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/gene_found_to_foster_synapse_formation_in_the_brain