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Neuronal protein may lead to schizophrenia
BALTIMORE, Nov 21, 2005 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Johns Hopkins scientists say a change in the function of a cerebral cortex protein may contribute to subtle neuronal defects observed in schizophrenia.
Such small changes in the brain's architecture have been thought to be contributing factors in the development of the disease. Now Akira Sawa and colleagues find in the absence of the DISC1 gene, or when the mutant form of DISC1 is present, normal movement of cells within the developing cerebral cortex is altered.
The study suggests DISC1 is important for normal formation of the cortex and may be one reason neuronal development goes awry in a subset of schizophrenia patients.
The study is presented in the December issue of the journal Nature Cell Biology.
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