Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila
Published on: August 20, 2019
A deletion in tropomyosin-related kinase B and the development of human anxiety
Carl Ernst1, Brigitte Wanner, Jelena Brezo
1McGill Group for Suicide Studies, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Background:
The tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor system has been associated with psychiatric disorders, and animal models of defects in this system suggest that it might have a particular role in anxiety.
Methods:
DNA sequencing and cloning were used to identify a mutation in TrkB, and four different cell lines were used to assess functionality. Clinical samples were from a 22-year longitudinal cohort representative of the Quebec general population (n = 640 subjects), randomly selected when they were in kindergarten. Anxiety-related traits were measured with the Social Behaviour Questionnaire, the Diagnostic Assessment of Personality Pathology-Brief Questionnaire, and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for DSM-IIIR.
Results:
An 11 base pair deletion in TrkB is significantly associated with increases in anxiety traits during childhood and the development of anxiety disorders in adulthood. We found that this deletion impaired transcription in some human cell lines.
Conclusions:
The identification of this deletion provides additional support for the role of TrkB in modulating anxiety-related traits in human.
Related Concept Videos
Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Social Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Enzyme-linked Receptors
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...

