Project Summary

Christos Ballas, M.D. (Young Investigator 2002) of University of Pennsylvania, is studying a novel gene which may be involved in the genetic susceptibility to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  A number of studies have found some overlap in the epidemiology of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  Linkage studies have identified 18p11.2 as a candidate region which contains a susceptibility gene for bipolar disorder and/or schizophrenia.  Within this region lies the Golf gene (G Protein subunit); located within intron 5 of this gene is a novel gene, 22444, which has no homology to any gene in the public databases.  Dr. Ballos will investigate the role of 22444 in the genetics of schizophrenia and bipolar illness, by determining the sequence variants in the cDNA for 22444 gene through direct sequencing; by genotyping the Golf(CA)n repeat and other 22444 variants in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder parent-child-testing a mouse knockout against behavioral paradigms.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS\Schizophrenia/Bipolar

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