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Deficits in syntaxin 1 phosphorylation in schizophrenia prefrontal cortex
Max A Castillo1, Subroto Ghose, Carol A Tamminga
1Department of Neurology, The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Biological Psychiatry
|September 15, 2009
Summary
Reduced casein kinase 2 (CK2) activity in schizophrenia brains impairs syntaxin 1 (Stx 1) phosphorylation, affecting neurotransmitter release. Antipsychotic drugs may reverse this deficit, suggesting a role in schizophrenia pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Schizophrenia is increasingly viewed as a synaptic disorder.
- Previous research indicates reduced casein kinase 2 (CK2) levels and activity in schizophrenia brains.
- This study investigates the role of CK2 in phosphorylating syntaxin 1 (Stx 1), a presynaptic protein crucial for neurotransmitter release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that CK2-mediated phosphorylation of Stx 1 is deficient in schizophrenia.
- To explore the impact of this deficiency on Stx 1 binding partners and neurotransmitter release.
- To examine the effects of antipsychotic drugs on CK2 and phospho-Stx 1 levels.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative immunoblotting was used to analyze post-mortem prefrontal cortex samples from 15 schizophrenia cases and matched controls.
- Levels of CK2 and phosphorylated Stx 1 (phospho-Stx 1) were measured.
- Binding interactions of Stx 1 with SNAP-25 and MUNC18, and SNARE complex formation were assessed.
Main Results:
- Reduced CK2 levels correlated with decreased phospho-Stx 1 levels in schizophrenia, confirming the hypothesis.
- These deficits were not observed in depression cases.
- Reduced phospho-Stx 1 was associated with impaired Stx 1 binding to SNAP-25 and MUNC18, and decreased SNARE complex formation.
- Antipsychotic drug treatment appeared to increase both CK2 and phospho-Stx 1 levels.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence of altered phosphorylation of a key neurotransmitter release protein in humans with schizophrenia.
- CK2-mediated phosphorylation of Stx 1 is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
- Antipsychotic drugs may exert therapeutic effects by restoring Stx 1 phosphorylation.
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