The Basic Biology of Aging at the University of Washington

Enrique C. Villacres, Ph.D

Biosketch Information
Email: enrique@u.washington.edu

My work involves the cloning of translocation breakpoints in patients with autism. The goal is to identify genes that are disrupted by the breakpoints and then determine whether these genes contribute to neuropsychiatric phenotypes such as autism. We have cloned AUTS2, a candidate gene for autism, in a pair of autistic twins with chromosomal translocation of 7q11.2. This gene appears to be in the vicinity of the Williams syndrome deletion. Williams syndrome patients appear to age prematurely.

Therefore, we are carrying out experiments to determine the exact location of this gene in relation to the Williams syndrome deletion. Once this is accomplished it will be reasonable to pursue further studies examining the role of this gene in aging.

Dr. Villacres is Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Research Affiliate, Center on Human Development and Disability. From 1993 to 1998, he held a Clinical Investigator Development Award (NINDS).

Selected Relevant Publications
Villacres EC, Hua W, Wu Z, Nielsen MD, Watters JJ, Yan C, Beavo J, Storm DR. Developmentally expressed CA2+ sensitive adenylyl cyclase activity is disrupted in the brains of type I adenylyl cyclase mutant mice. J Biol Chem 270:14352-14357, 1995.

Impey S, Mark M, Villacres EC, Poser S, Chavkin C, Storm DR. Induction of CRE-mediated gene expression by stimuli that generate long-lasting LTP in area CA1 of the hippocampus. Neuron 16:973-982, 1996.

Villacres EC, Wong S, Chavkin C, Storm DR. Type I adenylyl cyclase mutant mice have impaired mossy fiber long-term potentiation. J Neurosci 18:3186-3194, 1998.

Hacker BM, Tomlinson JE, Wayman GA, Sultana R, Villacres EC, Disteche C, Storm DR. Cloning, chromosomal mapping and regulatory properties of the human type 9 adenylyl cyclase (ADCY9). Genomics 50:97-104, 1998.