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Autistic traits are more prevalent in people missing a specific gene, according to researchers.

Previous studies have already shown that some people with autism lacked a gene called neurexin-II. However, the latest study showed that lacking the gene can lead to autistic-like symptoms like lack of sociability or interest in other mice.

"In other respects, these mice were functioning normally. The gene deficiency mapped closely with certain autism symptoms," lead researcher Dr. Steven Clapcote, a lecturer in Pharmacology in the University's Faculty of Biological Sciences, said in a university release. "This is exciting because we now have an animal model to investigate new treatments for autism."

Scientists also examined how missing the neurexin-II changes the brain.

"We found that the affected mice had lower levels of a protein called Munc18-1 in the brain. Munc18-1 usually helps to release neurotransmitter chemicals across synaptic connections in the brain, so neurotransmitter release could be impaired in the affected mice and possibly in some cases of autism," coauthor Dr. James Dachtler, Wellcome Trust Junior Investigator Development Fellow in the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds, said in a statement.

"Not all people with autism will have the neurexin-II defect, just as not all will have the neuroligin defect, but we are starting to build up a picture of the important role of genes involved in these synapse communications in better understanding autism," Clapcote concluded.

The findings were published in the journal Translational Psychiatry.