Loss of the polarity protein Par3 promotes dendritic spine neoteny and enhances learning and memory.

The Par3 polarity protein is critical for subcellular compartmentalization in different developmental processes. Variants of , encoding PAR3, are associated with intelligence and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the role of Par3 in glutamatergic synapse formation and cognitive functions remains unknown.

Loss of the polarity protein Par3 promotes dendritic spine neoteny and enhances learning and memory.

The Par3 polarity protein is critical for subcellular compartmentalization in different developmental processes. Variants of , which encodes PAR3, are associated with intelligence and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the role of Par3 in glutamatergic synapse formation and cognitive functions remains unknown.

SHANK3 Mutations Associated with Autism and Schizophrenia Lead to Shared and Distinct Changes in Dendritic Spine Dynamics in the Developing Mouse Brain.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia are distinct neurodevelopmental disorders that share certain symptoms and genetic components. Both disorders show abnormalities in dendritic spines, which are the main sites of excitatory synaptic inputs. Recent studies have identified the synaptic scaffolding protein Shank3 as a leading candidate gene for both disorders.