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1: Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2007 Sep;17(9):567-72. Epub 2007 Jan 23.Click here to read Links

Reviewing the role of the genes G72 and DAAO in glutamate neurotransmission in schizophrenia.

Boks MP, Rietkerk T, van de Beek MH, Sommer IE, de Koning TJ, Kahn RS.

Department of Psychiatry, B01.206, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. mboks@umcutrecht.nl

We review the role of two susceptibility genes; G72 and DAAO in glutamate neurotransmission and the aetiology of schizophrenia. The gene product of G72 is an activator of DAAO (D-amino acid oxidase), which is the only enzyme oxidising D-serine. D-serine is an important co-agonist for the NMDA glutamate receptor and plays a role in neuronal migration and cell death. Studies of D-serine revealed lower serum levels in schizophrenia patients as compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, administration of D-serine as add-on medication reduced the symptoms of schizophrenia. The underlying mechanism of the involvement of G72 and DAAO in schizophrenia is probably based on decreased levels of D-serine and decreased NMDA receptor functioning in patients. The involvement of this gene is therefore indirect support for the glutamate dysfunction hypothesis in schizophrenia. 2007 Elsevier B.V and ECNP

PMID: 17250995 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]