Identification of a BglI polymorphism of Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, and association study with schizophrenia

✍ Scribed by Chen, Chia-Hsiang; Lee, Yu-Ru; Liu, Mei-Ying; Wei, Fu-Chuan; Koong, Farn-Jong; Hwu, Hai-Gwo; Hsiao, Kwang-Jen

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 394 KB
• Volume: 67
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-7299
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19961122)67:6<556::aid-ajmg8>3.0.co;2-f

✦ Synopsis

Several linkage studies suggested chromosome 22q11-13 may harbor susceptible genes for schizophrenia. Catechol-0methyl-transferase t:COMT), which is involved in the metabolism of catecholamines, was mapped to 22q'll and is considered a possible candidate gene for schizophrenia. Recently, we identified a polymorphic marker, a single nudeotide C insertion at the 3' untranslated region of the COMT gene, which obliterates a BgZI site. Using this BgZI polymorphism, we conducted a case-control associa tion study in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. No significant differences of allele and genotype frequencies were noted between patients (N = 177) and controls (N = 9!3). When patients were subgrouped according to sex, no significant differences of genotype and allele frequencies were noted in either male or female patients compared to normal controls. Our results do not support an association between the Bg2I polymorphism of COMT gene and schizophrenia. @