Abstract
Patients with intellectual disability (ID) account for 1%–3% of the general population worldwide, incurring huge economical and psychological burden on families and societies. Thus it is imperative that we study the underlying mechanisms and develop strategies to prevent and cure the disease. So far, more than 500 genes have been identified to be associated with ID. Though these genes have diverse molecular and cellular functions, most if not all genes play a role in synapse development, function, or plasticity, and hence learning and memory. Synapses are specialized structures mediating neurotransmission between neurons and their target cells; abnormalities in synapses are often observed in ID patients. This mini-review summarizes recent progress in synapse development and focuses on bone morphogenetic protein signaling, microtubules, and actin cytoskeleton in ID-related synaptopathologies.
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