The Herc1 gene in neurobiology

Abstract

The function of the HERC1 gene has mainly been delineated by studying Herc1^tbl (tambaleante) mutant mice, characterized by losses in cerebellar Purkinje cells, a lower number of synaptic vesicles in the hippocampus, and anomalies in climbing fiber projections from the inferior olive as well as alpha-motoneuron projections to the skeletal muscle. The salient behavioral phenotypes include cerebellar ataxia, a loss in motor coordination, muscle weakness, and spatial deficits. Similar neuropathological and behavioral profiles have been described in childhood-onset subjects with HERC1 variants, including cerebellar ataxia and hypotonia.

Keywords: Ataxia; Cerebellum; Dopamine; Monoamine; Motor coordination; Noradrenaline; Purkinje cell; Serotonin; Spatial learning.