VSD: a database for schizophrenia candidate genes focusing on variations.

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Neuroscience
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Schizophrenia is a common mental disorder with genetic underpinnings.
• Previous research suggests multiple susceptibility loci for schizophrenia.
• Identifying genes with small effects is crucial for understanding its polygenic nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically search for genes with small effects in schizophrenia development.
• To establish a comprehensive database of genetic variations in candidate schizophrenia genes.
• To provide a resource for identifying schizophrenia susceptibility genes.

Main Methods:

• Established the Variation in Schizophrenia Database (VSD) for candidate gene variation data.
• Collected variation data (primarily single nucleotide polymorphisms - SNPs) from public databases (dbSNP, HGVbase, OMIM).
• Annotated variations against reference sequences (NCBI RefSeq) and identified nonsynonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) in functional protein sites.

Main Results:

• The VSD contains 23,648 variations across 186 genes.
• 588 protein domains/sites contain nsSNPs, indicating potential functional impact.
• The database includes gene descriptions, enzyme information, and biological context.

Conclusions:

• VSD serves as an up-to-date, comprehensive resource for schizophrenia susceptibility gene identification.
• Focusing on nsSNPs in functional sites aids in pinpointing genes affecting protein function.
• The database facilitates systematic investigation of genes contributing to schizophrenia's polygenic architecture.