RNA PROFILING IN NEUROPSYCHIATRIC AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS

RNA PROFILING IN NEUROPSYCHIATRIC AND

NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS

Allen Fienberg, Rockefeller

University

To identify molecular substrates

associated with schizophrenia, DNA microarray analysis was used to assay gene

expression levels in post-mortem dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex of

schizophrenia and control patients.  Genes determined to have altered

expression levels in schizophrenics relative to controls are involved in a

number of biological processes, including synaptic plasticity, neuronal

development, neurotransmission and signal transduction.  Most notable was

the differential expression of myelination-related genes suggesting a disruption

in oligodendrocyte function in schizophrenia. Follow-up studies to this initial

series of experiments will also be presented.

Slides: