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Does disrupted-in-schizophrenia (DISC1) generate fusion transcripts?

Molecular Psychiatry volume 13, pages 361–363 (2008)Cite this article

A balanced chromosome (1; 11)(q42.1; q14.3) translocation was found to segregate (maximum LOD=7.1) with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression in a large Scottish family.1 Subsequent molecular studies identified two genes, DISC1 and DISC2, that were disrupted by the translocation break point in chromosome 1q42.1. The potential contributions of DISC1/2 and a nearby TRAX gene to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia were subsequently supported by a number of, but not all, genetic association studies in the general population, including those with different ethnic genetic backgrounds.2 However, the odds ratios are modest for DISC1 as a susceptibility gene and functional mutations have not been identified. In contrast, the t(1; 11) translocation in the Scottish family appears to be the causal genetic lesion with 70% penetrance for major mental illness. The identification of the truncated DISC1 from the translocation prompted many intriguing studies in recent years to elucidate the biological functions of DISC1 and associated molecular pathways relevant to schizophrenia and related psychiatric disorders.3 Therefore, an understanding of the precise genetic lesion in the Scottish family will be valuable for molecular biologists to unravel the underlying molecular mechanism for the diseases.

Taken together, the functions for both CK 000409 and BU599486 genes need to be investigated, and the putative fusion transcripts need to be confirmed to fully understand the underlying molecular mechanism for the influence of the translocation on schizophrenia and related affective disorders.

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Acknowledgements

These studies were supported by National Institute of Mental Health funding (R01 MH073991) to MA Geyer, X Zhou and JR Kelsoe, and the Veterans Affairs VISN 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC). X Zhou was supported by a NARSAD Young Investigator Award. JR Kelsoe is a founder and holds equity in Psynomics Inc. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by UCSD in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

    X Zhou, M A Geyer & J R Kelsoe

  2. Department of Psychiatry, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA

    X Zhou, M A Geyer & J R Kelsoe

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  1. X Zhou
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  2. M A Geyer
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Correspondence to X Zhou.

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Zhou, X., Geyer, M. & Kelsoe, J. Does disrupted-in-schizophrenia (DISC1) generate fusion transcripts?. Mol Psychiatry 13, 361–363 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4002125

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