Common DISC1 polymorphisms disrupt Wnt/GSK3β signaling and brain development

Karun K. Singh, Gianluca De Rienzo, Laurel Drane, Yingwei Mao, Zachary Flood, Jon Madison, Manuel Ferreira, Sarah Bergen, Cillian King, Pamela Sklar, Hazel Sive, Li Huei Tsai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

Disrupted in Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is a candidate gene for psychiatric disorders and has many roles during brain development. Common DISC1 polymorphisms (variants) are associated with neuropsychiatric phenotypes including altered cognition, brain structure, and function; however, it is unknown how this occurs. Here, we demonstrate using mouse, zebrafish, and human model systems that DISC1 variants are loss of function in Wnt/GSK3β signaling and disrupt brain development. The DISC1 variants A83V, R264Q, and L607F, but not S704C, do not activate Wnt signaling compared with wild-type DISC1 resulting in decreased neural progenitor proliferation. In zebrafish, R264Q and L607F could not rescue DISC1 knockdown-mediated aberrant brain development. Furthermore, human lymphoblast cell lines endogenously expressing R264Q displayed impaired Wnt signaling. Interestingly, S704C inhibited the migration of neurons in the developing neocortex. Our data demonstrate DISC1 variants impair Wnt signaling and brain development and elucidate a possible mechanism for their role in neuropsychiatric phenotypes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)545-558
Number of pages14
JournalNeuron
Volume72
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 17 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neuroscience(all)

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