Author(s) :

Shashank Kailash Muthuraju.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a brain developmental disorder influenced by various genetic and environmental factors. Zinc, a trace element essential for cellular functions such as growth, wound healing, and immune support, also plays a novel role in brain development during pregnancy. During brain development, synoptic proteins have a major role in successful brain development. Shank is one of the synaptic proteins which are regulated by Zinc. Zinc and Shank are mostly involved in neurological disorders, especially in Autism. Much recent literature highlights the involvement of Zinc and Shank in neurological disorders, particularly ASD. In PubMed, there are nearly 250 articles published in association with Zinc and Autism spectrum disorder. Similarly, the zinc and shanks protein family are widely studied and there are 125 articles published in the ASD model. However, the crosstalk between zinc and shanks proteins has not been exclusively reviewed in the development of autism since last year. The purpose of this review is to highlight the fundamental role of zinc and shank proteins in the development of autism. The first part of the review focuses on the role of Zinc and Shank in the ASD brain, and the second part focuses on crosstalk between zinc and shank genes in the brain especially in ASD.