Dynamic synaptic mechanisms linking genetic risk to neuropsychiatric disorders

Genetic risk for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder, converges on synaptic biology. This convergence extends beyond static synaptic structures to the dynamic, activity-dependent molecular systems. We review how genetic risk variants disrupt post-transcriptional control by RNA-binding proteins, local translation and its machinery, and effectors of synaptic plasticity mechanisms. These disruptions impair neurocircuits in context-dependent manners shaped by developmental stage, cell type, and subcellular compartment. Understanding this multilayered convergence is key for translating genetic discoveries into therapeutic advances.