Polymorphism of the 5 '-upstream region of the human SNAP-25 gene: An association analysis with schizophrenia

Recent studies have suggested that synaptic abnormalities may be part of th e pathophysiology of schizophrenia. SNAP-25 (synaptosomal-associated protei n of 25 kD) is one of the synaptic proteins responsible for presynaptic neu rotransmission, axonal elongation and synaptogenesis. Genetic variation in the 5'-upstream region of the SNAP-25 gene was analyzed in 87 unrelated sch izophrenic patients and 100 healthy controls. A novel polymorphic (TAAA)(n) tandem repeat was identified in the 5'-upstream region. There were no sign ificant differences between the patient and the control groups in the distr ibution of repeat numbers of alleles or genotypes, In addition, no associat ions were found between the polymorphism for subtypes, longitudinal courses or positive family history of the patients. Our results suggest that polym orphisms in the 5'-upstream region of the SNAP25 gene have no association w ith schizophrenia. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG. Basel.