Background: De novo deletion of the neuronal calcium-binding protein 2 (NECAB2) locus is associated with idiopathic autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The in vivo function of NECAB2 in the brain remains largely elusive.Methods: We investigated the morphological and behavioral profiles of both necab2 knock-out and overexpression zebrafish models. The expression pattern and molecular role of necab2 were probed through a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays.Results: We show that Necab2 is a neuronal specific, cytoplasmic, and membrane-associated protein, abundantly expressed in the telencephalon, habenula, and cerebellum. Necab2 is distributed peri-synaptically in subsets of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. CRISPR/Cas9-generated necab2 knock-out zebrafish display normal morphology but exhibit a decrease in locomotor activity and thigmotaxis with impaired social interaction only in males. Conversely, necab2 overexpression yields behavioral phenotypes opposite to the loss-of-function. Proteomic profiling uncovers a role of Necab2 in modulating signal transduction of G-protein coupled receptors. Specifically, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and confocal live-cell imaging suggest a complex containing NECAB2 and the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1). In vivo measurement of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate further substantiates that Necab2 promotes mGluR1 signaling.Conclusions: Necab2 regulates psychomotor and social behavior via modulating a signaling cascade downstream of mGluR1.

Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions that pose substantial diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Maternal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy is a well-established risk factor associated with autism-like behaviors in offspring. This study characterized the metabolic phenotypes in the brain tissue of larval zebrafish following VPA exposure. Zebrafish were exposed to 4 μM VPA from 2 h postfertilization until 4.5 days postfertilization, and locomotor activity was assessed at 14 days postfertilization. Comprehensive metabolomic profiling via ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS/MS identified 2,613 metabolites in brain tissue, of which 50 showed potential links to autism (CTRL_CV <15%, VPA_CV <20%). Significant reductions were observed in the levels of glutamine, glutamate, and triglyceride (TG). Nile red staining confirmed profoundly decreased TG deposition in the dorsal telencephalon (pallium), habenula, and cerebellum of VPA-exposed zebrafish. Furthermore, in vivo imaging revealed attenuated fluorescence intensity in excitatory glutamatergic and inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acidergic neurons within the habenular nucleus and optic tectum, corresponding to reduced TG levels. Conversely, the cerebellar corpus (central cerebellar body) and inferior olive nucleus exhibited an increase in excitatory glutamatergic neurons and a reduction in inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acidergic neurons, indicating an excitatory and inhibitory imbalance. Collectively, these findings suggest that VPA may promote autism pathogenesis by disrupting the glutamine-glutamate cycle and impairing TG metabolism in the zebrafish brain. These findings offer novel insights into metabolic dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders and may facilitate the identification of potential diagnostic biomarkers.

Environmental antibiotic pollution is an underexplored contributor to gut aging and chronic intestinal diseases. We provide evidence that chronic exposure to enrofloxacin (ENR), a commonly detected veterinary antibiotic, accelerates gut aging and disease progression through a mitochondria‐centered mechanism. In a population‐based cross‐sectional analysis, recent antibiotic use was associated with increased biological age and a higher risk of diarrhea in middle‐aged and older adults, supporting a link between antibiotic exposure and impaired gut health and aging processes. Using zebrafish and intestinal epithelial cell models, we demonstrate that low‐dose ENR exposure impairs intestinal function, characterized by increased permeability, reduced mucus secretion, tight junction disruption, and chronic inflammation. Multi‐omics profiling revealed that ENR induced gut microbial dysbiosis, reduced metabolic diversity, and intestinal hypoxia. Mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly impaired oxidative phosphorylation, was identified as the key driver of epithelial damage. Remarkably, treatment with pyrroloquinoline quinone, a mitochondrial‐targeted antioxidant, reversed ENR‐induced mitochondrial injury, restored intestinal integrity, reduced inflammation, and partially normalized the microbiome. Stratified analyses in the human cohort showed that higher gut microbiota‐related diet quality and antioxidant capacity mitigated antibiotic‐associated aging and diarrhea risk. These findings highlight mitochondrial protection and microbiota optimization as promising therapeutic strategies.

Blood type, which harbors abundant genetics meaning, is one of the most common phenotypes in human life. With the development of science and technology, its significance is unceasingly updated and new finding is increasingly emerging, which constantly attracts people to decipher the heredity mechanism of blood type. In addition to four main associated contents, i.e., Mendelian inheritance, genetic linkage, gene mutations, and chromosome abnormalities, the blood type case also covers many other aspects of the genetics knowledge. Based on the genetic knowledge context, we can interest the students and improve the teaching output in genetic teaching practice by combining with explaining ABO blood type case and heredity mechanism, expanding leucocyte groups, and introducing infrequent blood type such as Bombay blood, Rh and MN. By carrying out the related experimental teaching, we could drive the student to integrate theory with practice. In genetic experimental teaching, 80% of the students chose this optional experiment, molecular identification of ABO blood type, and it greatly interested them. Using appropriate blood type case in teaching related knowledge, organizing PPT exhi-bition and the debating discussion activities, it could provide opportunities for student to propose their own opinions, guide the student to thinking deeply, and develop their abilities to analyze and solve problem. Afterwards, students will gain in-depth comprehension about the fundamental knowledge of genetics.