Microarray Technology: New Strategies in the Discovery of the Etiology of Schizophrenia

Microarray Technology: New Strategies in the Discovery of the Etiology of Schizophrenia

Alvin Sherman Library 4009

Schizophrenia is a complex trait disorder attributed to polygenic and epigenic factors linked to over ten chromosomal loci that are responsible for symptoms reflecting multiple mental processes such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech and behavior. Numerous studies implicate the profound effects of both genetic and environmental factors on neurodevelopmental processes to conclude that the function of the nervous system is highly dependent on gene expression. The objective of this literature research project is to summarize the application and major conclusions of two DNA microarray research procedures executed in an attempt to identify the causes and genes attributed to Schizophrenia. Microarray methodology is a high-throughput method that has been used to simultaneously examine the differential expression of large numbers of genes extracted from postmortem brain tissue. The first research article evaluated Schizophrenia as a disease of the synapse by utilizing cDNA microarrays to examine expression levels of genes encoding regulatory proteins for presynaptic function. The second research article analyzed signature differences of gene expression in the prefrontal cortex attributed to the disease. The major conclusions obtained through this research have been used to identify possible candidate genes that are partly responsible for the etiology of Schizophrenia, such as PSYN, RGS4, HINT, UBE2N, and GRIA2. Future research may lead to therapy and drug targets used to manipulate the expression of these gene groups in an attempt to cure or possibly prevent the onset of Schizophrenia.