WBSCR Locus: At the Crossroads of Human Behavioral Disorders and Domestication of Animals

Social interaction between the domesticated animal and the domesticator is one of the key features of the “domestication syndrome”. Recent research has identified genes in the WBSCR (Williams–Beuren syndrome control region) locus as significant contributors to social behavior in dogs. Large chromosomal deletions and duplications in the human WBSCR locus lead to the development of WBS (Williams–Beuren syndrome) and WBSCR duplication syndrome, respectively. Hypersociability is one of the key symptoms of WBS, while the duplication syndrome is manifested as an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The data from both humans and dogs highlight the WBSCR locus as one of the key genetic determinants of social behavior in mammals. Several genes in the WBSCR are candidates for the regulation of social behavior in mammals including GTF2I, GTF2IRD, AUTS2 and GALNT17. Here, we discuss the role of WBSCR locus in the regulation of social behavior in mammals including the recent data that highlight the importance of 3D genome alterations in this genomic region for both domestication of animals and development of neurobehavioral disorders in humans. In addition, we bring attention to the role of the poorly characterized GALNT17 gene as a putative player in the development of ASD symptoms and in the regulation of social behavior in animals. We provide a brief summary of its known functions and propose the future research directions aimed at the elucidation of Galnt17 involvement in the regulation of central nervous system (CNS) functions.