Scientists map key protein interactions linked with profound autism

Researchers at UC San Francisco have built a molecular atlas mapping more than a thousand protein interactions tied to genes associated with profound autism. The study, published in the journal Science, focuses on interactions among proteins produced by autism risk genes, aiming to clarify how gene mutations translate into disease biology and potentially support development of new therapies. UCLA professor Daniel Geschwind, who was not involved, called it an “unprecedented resource” for the field. For families, the work offers hope for future drug treatments. The researchers say the approach addresses a long-standing gap: scientists had identified many risk genes but lacked visibility into how the proteins function.