The schizophrenia risk gene product miR-137 alters presynaptic plasticity

Neurodevelopmental disorders are frequently associated with synaptic dysfunction. Recent genome-wide association studies associate the gene encoding microRNA-137 with an increased risk for schizophrenia. Using mouse and human models, the authors show that dysregulation of this miRNA leads to presynaptic defects and, consequently, to impaired synaptic plasticity and cognitive dysfunction.