Navigation Links
Interaction between gene variants may alter brain function in schizophrenia
Date:11/7/2008

A collaborative study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is giving what may be the first look at how interactions between genes underlie a key symptom of schizophrenia, impaired working memory. Functional imaging studies reveal how a combination of common variants in two genes is associated with reduced activity of important brain structures in schizophrenia patients but not in normal controls. The report has been released online in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Schizophrenia is a highly genetic disorder, but we are learning that its genetics are not straightforward. In most cases potential risk genes appear to have very small effects on symptoms, making it difficult to attribute clinical findings to particular genes," says Joshua Roffman, MD, of the MGH Department of Psychiatry, the study's lead author. "To amplify some of these subtle effects, we and others are looking how the genes affect brain function, rather than just behavior."

The team which included investigators from the University of New Mexico, University of Iowa and University of Minnesota through the MIND Clinical Imaging Consortium used functional MRI to scan an area of the prefrontal cortex known to be critical to working memory in 79 schizophrenia patients and 75 healthy controls as they completed a memory task. Levels of cortical activity were then analyzed for any association with common variants in two genes: MTHFR, which regulates folate metabolism and has been associated with schizophrenia risk, and COMT, which is involved with dopamine processing during working memory.

Although the schizophrenia-associated variant of MTHFR was found in both patients and controls, when the working memory task become more difficult, weaker cortical function associated with that variant was seen only in the schizophrenia patients, not in controls. While variations in COMT did not influence co
'/>"/>

Contact: Sue McGreevey
smcgreevey@partners.org
617-724-2764
Massachusetts General Hospital
Source:Eurekalert

2

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Interaction of just 2 genes governs coloration patterns in mice
2. Hidden interactions between predators and prey: evolution causes cryptic dynamics in ecology
3. Skin oil -- ozone interactions worsen air quality in airplanes
4. Keck Foundation funds study of biological interactions with nanomaterials
5. Odd protein interaction guides development of olfactory system
6. New technology illuminates protein interactions in living cells
7. Rong Li Lab reports protein interactions of MAP kinase signaling pathway
8. New Argonne study may shed light on protein-drug interactions
9. Stowers Proteomics Center devises method for assigning probabilities to human protein interactions
10. Workshop assesses interactions between climate, forests and land use in the Amazon Basin
11. ESF conference probes waters mysterious interactions at molecular level

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:11/9/2009)...olutionary biologists David Queller and Joan Stras...nd low conflict between components, from the genet...lity," whether that thing is an animal, a plant, a...entists use to describe an organism, such as indiv...ay not be necessary to achieve organismality. What...
(Date:11/9/2009)...f butterfly wings has inspired a 3.2m, three-year ...on in the fields of security, energy and the envir... technology company QinetiQ have just signed a col...sed on groundbreaking physical sciences research. ...s from the University of Exeter and QinetiQ will w...
(Date:11/9/2009)...it responsible for the rapid, mysterious death of ... found by collaborating scientists at Rutgers Univ...n (WHOI). This same chemical may hold unexpected ...d a previously unknown lipid, or fatty compound, i...liania huxleyi , a phytoplankton that plays a majo...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):What is the meaning of 'one'? 2What is the meaning of 'one'? 3£3.2m ($5.4 million) research project to capture brilliance of butterfly wings 2Newly discovered fat molecule: An undersea killer with an upside 2Newly discovered fat molecule: An undersea killer with an upside 3Newly discovered fat molecule: An undersea killer with an upside 4Canadian excellence strengthened by extensive adoption of open access 8983 1Canadian excellence strengthened by extensive adoption of open access 8983 2Expanding Indianas Breakthroughs in Health Information Technology 28Exibhit Indiana 29 3A Initiative to Advance the States Health IT National Leaders 12768 1Expanding Indianas Breakthroughs in Health Information Technology 28Exibhit Indiana 29 3A Initiative to Advance the States Health IT National Leaders 12768 2Expanding Indianas Breakthroughs in Health Information Technology 28Exibhit Indiana 29 3A Initiative to Advance the States Health IT National Leaders 12768 3Medical Safety Net in Florida to Strengthen with Recent Grants 49925 1Medical Safety Net in Florida to Strengthen with Recent Grants 49925 2
...eport function of tunneling nanotubules , Immune ...ensive network of tiny tunnels that, like a buildi...ot signals to distant cells. This surprising disco...gh School of Medicine researchers in the September... immune response can be so exquisitely swift. The ...
...f a plan by researchers at the University of Warw... fruit orchards as a weapon to spread a virus to ...rs to selectively target the pest with a virus tha...l insects. , The researchers at Warwick HRI, the h...wick, have devised a hanging basket style dispense...
..., and flies keeps blood sugar under control in mic...sm. The findings suggest therapeutic interventions...orders, such as type 2 diabetes, which frequently ...ound that mice with an excess of the protein Sirt1...lerance and enhanced insulin secretion in response...
Other Biology News:'Underground' tunnels discovered as means for communication between immune system cells 2'Underground' tunnels discovered as means for communication between immune system cells 3'Underground' tunnels discovered as means for communication between immune system cells 4Hanging baskets of sex and death help fruit growers 2Life-extending protein keeps blood sugar in check 2
(Date:11/6/2009)...swire/ -- Calbiotech, Inc. announced today that it...arch (SBIR) Phase I contract by the U.S. Army Medi...the agreement, Calbiotech will develop analyte spe...virus. ,, Dengue virus is a mosquito-born fl...y forces deployed to tropical areas of the world. ...
(Date:11/5/2009)... , Fuel economy ratings for the new 2010 model y...nomy.gov web site, which Oak Ridge National Labor...ent of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protectio...fuel economy list are hybrid electrics, led by the...t proves that hybrids have gone mainstream," said ...
(Date:11/5/2009)...all/ -- Imagenetix, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: IAGX... and CEO of Imagenetix, will be presenting the Com... on Thursday, December 3rd, at 10:30 AM PST at the...,, LD MICRO is a by-invitation only newsletter ... in the micro-cap space. Since 2002, the firm has ...
(Date:11/5/2009)...irstCall/ -- BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasd...g first-in-class collagenase-based products, today...rter ended September 30, 2009. ,, "We were ext...FDA,s Arthritis Advisory Committee unanimously rec...EX(TM) for the treatment of Dupuytren,s disease, a...
Breaking Biology Technology:Calbiotech Awarded U.S. Army Phase I SBIR Research Contract to Develop Analyte Specific Reagents for the Diagnosis of Dengue Fever Virus 2November 2009 story tips from the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory 2November 2009 story tips from the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory 3Imagenetix to Present at 2nd Annual LD MICRO Conference at the Luxe Sunset Bel Air 2BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 2BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 3BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 4BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 5
...der Provides Business Update to Investors, WILMIN...conference, DuPont Vice President & General Manage...ts two advanced biofuels programs to,market are on...oward the,commercialization of biobutanol and the ...nto biofuels., "Biobutanol and cellulosic ethanol...
...I DATA FOR LEAD DRUG CANDIDATE ARIKACE(TM) DRIVES,...N.J., Oct. 2 Transave, Inc., a,biopharmaceutical ...harmaceuticals for the site-specific treatment of ...secured a $12.5 million venture loan from CIT,Heal... affiliate of Horizon,Technology Finance Managemen...
.... 2 Advanced Instruments, Inc., of,Norwood, Massa...% of the,shares of D & F Control Systems, Inc., of... disclosed., D & F Control Systems manufactures a...cell dyes for laboratories around the world. Their...accuracy through a,neutralized absorbency formula,...
Other Biology Technology:DuPont Meeting Significant 2008 Milestones in Progressing Advanced Biofuels 2DuPont Meeting Significant 2008 Milestones in Progressing Advanced Biofuels 3Transave, Inc. Secures $12.5 Million in New Financing 2Transave, Inc. Secures $12.5 Million in New Financing 3Transave, Inc. Secures $12.5 Million in New Financing 4Transave, Inc. Secures $12.5 Million in New Financing 5Advanced Instruments Acquires D & F Control Systems Inc. 2
...PBL's bioassays for interferons are cytopathic eff...iral assays. Sample types include; tissue culture...formulations. In these assays, one unit is define...liter to reduce the cytopathic effect of viral inf...
...PBL's bioassays for interferons are cytopathic eff...iral assays. Sample types include; tissue culture...formulations. In these assays, one unit is define...liter to reduce the cytopathic effect of viral inf...
Asp 718 from Roche Applied Science
Guanylyltransferase (5 U/l) from Ambion
Biology Products: