New gene for bipolar disorder discovered Using automated analysis methods, the researchers recorded about 2.3 million different regions in the genetic material of patients and comparators, respectively. The subsequent evaluation using biostatistical methods revealed a total of five risk regions on the DNA associated with bipolar disorder. Two of these regions were newly discovered: The gene ADCY2 on chromosome five and the so-called MIR2113-POU3F2 region on chromosome six. The risk regions ANK3, ODZ4 and TRANK1 have already been described in prior studies. These gene regions were, however, statistically better confirmed in our current investigation - the connection with bipolar disorder has now become even clearer, says Prof. Nöthen. The researchers are particularly interested in the newly discovered gene region ADCY2. It codes an enzyme which is involved in the conduction of signals into nerve cells. This fits very well with observations that the signal transfer in certain regions of the brain is impaired in patients with bipolar disorder,
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 06:08:43 +0000
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