DISC1
Description
The DISC1 (DISC1 scaffold protein) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 1.
Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DISC1 gene. In coordination with a wide array of interacting partners, DISC1 has been shown to participate in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, neuronal axon and dendrite outgrowth, mitochondrial transport, fission and/or fusion, and cell-to-cell adhesion. Several studies have shown that unregulated expression or altered protein structure of DISC1 may predispose individuals to the development of schizophrenia, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric conditions. The cellular functions that are disrupted by permutations in DISC1, which lead to the development of these disorders, have yet to be clearly defined and are the subject of current ongoing research. Although, recent genetic studies of large schizophrenia cohorts have failed to implicate DISC1 as a risk gene at the gene level, the DISC1 interactome gene set was associated with schizophrenia, showing evidence from genome-wide association studies of the role of DISC1 and interacting partners in schizophrenia susceptibility.
== Discovery == In 1970, researchers from the University of Edinburgh performing cytogenetic research on a group of juvenile offenders in Scotland found an abnormal translocation in chromosome 1 of one of the boys, who also displayed characteristics of an affective psychological disorder. After this initial observation, the boy's family was studied and it was found that 34 out of 77 family members displayed the same translocation. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) (or DSM-IV) criteria, sixteen of the 34 individuals identified as having the genetic mutation were diagnosed with psychiatric problems. In contrast, five of the 43 unaffected family members were identified to have psychological indispositions. The psychiatric illnesses observed in the family ranged from schizophrenia and major depression to bipolar disorder and adolescent conduct disorder (which the original research subject had).
Involved in the regulation of multiple aspects of embryonic and adult neurogenesis (PubMed:19502360, PubMed:19303846). Required for neural progenitor proliferation in the ventrical/subventrical zone during embryonic brain development and in the adult dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (By similarity). Participates in the Wnt-mediated neural progenitor proliferation as a positive regulator by modulating GSK3B activity and CTNNB1 abundance (PubMed:19303846). Plays a role as a modulator of the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway controlling the tempo of the process of newborn neurons integration during adult neurogenesis, including neuron positioning, dendritic development and synapse formation (By similarity). Inhibits the activation of AKT-mTOR signaling upon interaction with CCDC88A (By similarity). Regulates the migration of early-born granule cell precursors toward the dentate gyrus during the hippocampal development (PubMed:19502360). Inhibits ATF4 transcription factor activity in neurons by disrupting ATF4 dimerization and DNA-binding (By similarity). Plays a role, together with PCNT, in the microtubule network formation (PubMed:18955030). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q811T9, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18955030, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19303846, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19502360}.
DISC1 is also known as C1orf136, SCZD9.
Associated Diseases
- schizophrenia
- 7q11.23 microduplication syndrome
- microangiopathy and leukoencephalopathy, pontine, autosomal dominant
- glioblastoma
