Professor Zhaohui Sunny Zhou of the Barnett Institute, together with Professor Richard Deth of Pharmacology, has received a grant from the Autism Research Institute to investigate the role of homocysteine thiolactone in autism. Homocysteine thiolactone is generated from the amino acid homocysteine, which lies at a critical branch point in the biochemical pathways for methylation and sulfur metabolism. Aberrant homocysteine levels have been associated with autism and other conditions, including birth defects and vascular diseases; however, the etiology of homocysteine-associated diseases is poorly understood. With the support of this grant, Drs. Zhou and Deth will determine the concentrations of homocysteine thiolactone in autistic patients, and test several working hypotheses. For example, this interdisciplinary team is implementing global proteomic techniques to detect, with high sensitivity and selectivity, proteins that are modified by homocysteine thiolactone.  Subsequently, a comprehensive characterization of these modified proteins will shed light on the underlying mechanisms of the modification and its role in autism. The project will also identify candidate biomarkers for more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of homocysteine-associated diseases. Professor Zhou is a Faculty Fellow at the Barnett Institute and an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Professor Deth is a Professor of Pharmacology, both at the Northeastern University.  

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