Study of genomic variability in the genetic susceptibility to psychiatric disorders: SNPs, CNVs and miRNAs

In this thesis we have studied genetic elements potentially contributing to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, focusing on different sources of human genome variability, including SNPs and CNVs, which can affect not only coding genes but also RNA regulatory elements, such as miRNAs. First...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Saus Martínez, Ester
Format: doctoral thesis
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2010
Country:España
Institution:CBUC, CESCA
Repository:TDR. Tesis Doctorales en Red
OAI Identifier:oai:www.tdx.cat:10803/7221
Online Access:http://www.tdx.cat/TDX-0207111-142731
http://hdl.handle.net/10803/7221
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:gens candidats
ritmes circadians
trastorns afectius
trastorns psiquiàtrics
susceptibilitat genètica
variabilitat genòmica
candidate genes
SNPs
CNVs
microRNAs
circadian rhythms
genetic susceptibility
psychiatric disorders
mood disorders
genomic variability
575
Description
Summary:In this thesis we have studied genetic elements potentially contributing to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, focusing on different sources of human genome variability, including SNPs and CNVs, which can affect not only coding genes but also RNA regulatory elements, such as miRNAs. First, we have interrogated different candidate genes for psychiatric disorders overlapping with known CNVs, finding 14 different genes variable in copy number in psychiatric disorders but not in control individuals. Then, narrowing the analysis on mood disorders, we explored GSK3β gene considering both SNPs and a partially overlapping CNV. The GSK3β promoter and intron 1 region was found significantly associated with an earlier onset of the major depressive disorder. Finally, we have found evidence possibly pointing to a precise post-transcriptional regulation of circadian rhythms by miRNAs in mood disorder patients. Concretely, a variant in the precursor form of miR-182 could play an important role in fine-tuning its target sites involved in the control of sleep/wake cycles. Overall, we have provided evidence of different types of genome variation on neuronal genes or miRNA regulatory regions that can potentially contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders.