No abnormality in the gene for the G protein stimulatory alpha subunit in patients with bipolar disorder
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1Clinical Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Md, USA.
Background:
The available evidence for an involvement of the heterotrimeric guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) in bipolar disorder relies primarily on the effects of lithium salts on G protein function and on alterations in the concentration or function of G proteins (most notably Gs-alpha) in peripheral leukocytes and in postmortem tissues of patients with bipolar disorder.
Methods:
The hypothesis that a mutation in Gs-alpha gene confers an increased susceptibility to bipolar disorder was tested by the following strategies: (1) mutational screening of the Gs-alpha subunit gene coding sequences and promoter sequences by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis in unrelated individuals with bipolar disorder and (2) association and linkage analyses with a common silent exonic polymorphism, using genetic allelic information from American families with at least 1 affected child. For association analysis, the transmission test for linkage disequilibrium was used; for linkage analysis, nonparametric methods were used.
Results:
No structural or regulatory mutations in this gene were found in bipolar disorder; the results of association and genetic linkage were negative.
Conclusion:
Our results do not support the speculation that the Gs-alpha protein gene has a role in the genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder.