Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42778562›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Enhanced axonal mitochondrial motility and neural activity-induced energy deficits destabilize synaptic transmission in models of bipolar disorder.

Sunan Li, Gui-Jing Xiong, Zezhi Li, Zu-Hang Sheng

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Sunan Li *Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4183-4349
Gui-Jing Xiong *Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3663-1034
Zezhi Li *Synaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0241-1500
Zu-Hang ShengSynaptic Function Section, The Porter Neuroscience Research Center, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. shengz@ninds.nih.gov.ORCID 0000-0003-4586-4753

Funding

Regulation of mitochondrial transport and its impact on synaptic transmissionZIANS003029 · NINDS · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE · PI SHENG, ZU-HANG · 2009 to 2025
$31.5M
Transport and regulation of presynaptic release machineryZIANS002946 · NINDS · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE · PI SHENG, ZU-HANG · 2009 to 2025
$25.6M
Intramural NIH HHS ZIA NS002946Intramural NIH HHS ZIA NS003029U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) ZIA NS002946U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) ZIA NS003029
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Synaptic communication requires mitochondria to supply ATP and buffer calcium at presynaptic terminals. In bipolar disorder, manic episodes are associated with elevated mood and neural activity, but the underlying cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Here we show that hiPSC-derived cortical neurons from donors with bipolar disorder exhibit increased axonal mitochondrial motility and frequent mitochondrial entry-exit transitions, reducing stable mitochondrial retention at presynaptic terminals. This destabilizes local ATP maintenance and calcium buffering, increasing synaptic variability without altering mean synaptic strength. Knockdown of the bipolar disorder risk gene AKAP11 in mouse neurons reproduced these synaptoenergetic deficits. HiPSC-derived neurons from donors with bipolar disorder exhibited reduced expression of the mitochondrial anchor protein syntaphilin(SNPH), and  snph knockout mice displayed manic-like behavioral phenotypes. Lithium restored presynaptic mitochondrial retention, improved ATP maintenance, rescued synaptic variability, and reversed behavioral phenotypes. These findings support impaired presynaptic mitochondrial retention and activity-induced synaptoenergetic deficits as cellular mechanisms contributing to bipolar disorder.

Indexed as

AxonsBipolar DisorderMitochondriaSynaptic TransmissionAdenosine TriphosphateAnimalsCalciumDisease Models, AnimalEnergy MetabolismFemaleHumansMaleMembrane ProteinsMiceMice, KnockoutNerve Tissue ProteinsAdenosine TriphosphateCalciumMembrane ProteinsNerve Tissue ProteinsSnph protein, mouse

Identifiers

PMID42778562
PMCPMC13601522

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.