Association study of a polymorphism of nonerythroid alpha-spectrin gene with schizophrenia

The specificity of cytoarchitectural abnormalities in limbic structures of patients with schizophrenia and their contributions towards the etiology of schizophrenia remain unknown, We have recently reported an increased break down of nonerythroid cu-spectrin (fodrin), a major component of neuronal cy toskeletal proteins, in schizophrenic left superior temporal cortices [Kita mura et al,, 1998: Biol Psychiatry 43: 254-262], suggesting that polymorphi sms of the cr-spectrin gene might contribute to the vulnerability to schizo phrenia, We screened for genetic variations associated with schizophrenia t hrough the C-terminus sequences of the human nonerythroid alpha-spectrin ge ne (SPTAN1) spanning two EF-hands and also tested a possible contribution o f the polymorphism to the development of schizophrenia by an association st udy. We found a polymorphic region of an intron located in the second EF-ha nd of SPTAN1 gene, There was no significant difference between patients wit h schizophrenia and controls in allele frequencies or genotype distribution . There is evidence that the Psh BI SPTAN1 gene polymorphism does not play a major role in the genetic component of schizophrenia. Am, J, Med, Genet, (Neuropsychiatr, Genet,) 88:291-293, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.