“…Others genes encoding synaptic proteins linked to ASD were also identified by NGS: They include the glutamate receptors (GRIK2, GRIA3), the cell adhesion molecule CNTNAP2, and the scaffolding protein SHANK3. SHANK3 is involved in (i) synapse formation and maturation, (ii) the link between neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels, and (iii) the interaction with scaffolding proteins and gene regulatory proteins (e.g., protein of chromatin remodeling CHD8; Anney et al., 2010; Cotney et al., 2015; De Rubeis et al., 2014; O'Roak et al., 2011). NRXN1 , NLGN3/4X, and SHANK3 genes, which encode proteins involved in neuronal cell adhesion and in the regulation of synaptic transmission, are considered strong candidate loci for ASD (Weiss & Arking, 2009).…”