NO LINKAGE OF THE CYTOCHROME P-450IIE1 (CYP2E1) C1 C2 POLYMORPHISM TOSCHIZOPHRENIA/

We investigated, using PCR-SSCP analysis, the relationship between sch izophrenia and the polymorphism of d-benzphetamine N-demethylase (cyto chrome P-450j or CYP2E1), which metabolizes psychotropic substances su ch as d-benzphetamine and alcohols. Among 41 patients with schizophren ia, no statistically significant change in the frequency of the mutant (Ct) allele relative to in controls was found, and no novel structura l mutation in the CYP2E1 gene, which would be expected to alter the CY P2E1 protein, was found. This could be explained by no linkage of the CYP2E1 gene (mutations in the exon 1-9, and C1/C2 polymorphism) to sch izophrenia.