ALG13 participates in epileptogenesis via regulation of GABAA receptors in mouse models

ALG13 (asparagine-linked glycosylation 13) plays crucial roles in the process of N-linked glycosylation. Mutations of the ALG13 gene underlie congenital disorders of glycosylation type I (CDG-I), a rare human genetic disorder with defective glycosylation. Epilepsy is commonly observed in congenital disorders of glycosylation type I (CDG-I). In our study, we found that about 20% of adult ALG13KO knockout mice display spontaneous seizures, which were identified in a simultaneous video and intracranial EEG recording. However, the mechanisms of ALG13 by which deficiency leads to epilepsy are unknown. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that ALG13KO mice show a marked decrease in gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABA_AR)-mediated inhibitory synaptic transmission. Furthermore, treatment with low-dose diazepam (a positive allosteric modulator of GABA_A receptors), which enhances GABA_AR function, also markedly ameliorates severity of epileptic seizures in ALG13KO mice. Moreover, ALG13 may influenced the expression of GABA_ARα2 membrane and total protein by changing transcription level of GABA_ARα2. Furthermore, protein interactions between ALG13 and GABA_ARα2 were observed in the cortex of wild-type mice. Overall, these results reveal that ALG13 may be involved in the occurrence of epilepsy through the regulation of GABA_AR function, and may provide new insight into epilepsy prevention and treatment.