Project Summary

Xandra O. Breakefield, Ph.D. (Distinguished Investigator 2006) of Massachusetts General Hospital, notes that most psychiatric disorders share the characteristic of resulting from subtle yet critical disturbances in the brain that are largely not yet understood. Another disorder that can be characterized this way is torsion dystonia, a movement disorder, which Dr. Breakefield is studying. She notes that while potential genes and gene candidates have been identified for these diseases, a new methodology is needed to understand how the defects in these genes affect neuronal communication. Dr. Breakefield will develop cell-based assays using recombinant fluorescent proteins that can report on synaptic communication, combined with high throughput screening of mutant/variant genes, inhibitory RNAs, and chemical compounds. The technology used in this study will focus on developing molecular “footprints” to visualize perturbations in neuronal communication due to genetic variations that affect synapse formation and function. This study has implications for the study of severe psychiatric brain disorders, such as bipolar disorder.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS

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