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DAOA ARG30LYS and verbal memory function in schizophrenia

Molecular Psychiatry volume 12, pages 795–796 (2007)Cite this article

A recent meta-analysis of association findings for DAOA suggests that multiple risk polymorphisms within the gene are contributing to schizophrenia susceptibility.1 Specifically, this meta-analysis identified association with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) downstream of the 3′ end of the gene (rs3918342 (M23) and rs1421292 (M24)) and with SNPs at the 5′ end of the gene (rs3916965 (M12) in the putative promoter region and rs2391191 (M15) in exon 2). In addition to being one of the most strongly associated markers in the meta-analysis, M15 is also a putative functional polymorphism causing an arginine-to-lysine substitution at codon 30 (ARG30LYS). The functional impact of this substitution has yet to be determined. Following a recent association between cognitive deficits and M24 at DAOA,2 we investigated whether the ARG30LYS substitution was also associated with cognitive impairments. We reasoned that such evidence would provide important support for the role of this putative functional polymorphism in brain activity.

After receiving ethical approval, we collected neuropsychological assessments on a subset of 93 consenting patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia from our total case control sample (comprised of 373 cases and 812 controls, all of Irish nationality). All patients were clinically stable, aged between 18 and 60 years, and were free from confounding factors such as epilepsy, substance abuse or acquired brain injury. This subgroup had a mean age of 46.2 years (s.d.=9.3), was comprised primarily of males (75%) and had a predominantly chronic illness history (duration in years 22.3±10.4; range 4–42).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuropsychiatric Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    G Donohoe, D W Morris, I H Robertson, K A McGhee, K Murphy, N Kenny, S Clarke, M Gill & A P Corvin

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  1. G Donohoe
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  2. D W Morris
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  3. I H Robertson
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  4. K A McGhee
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  5. K Murphy
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  6. N Kenny
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  7. S Clarke
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  8. M Gill
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  9. A P Corvin
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Correspondence to G Donohoe.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Molecular Psychiatry website (http://www.nature.com/mp)

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Donohoe, G., Morris, D., Robertson, I. et al. DAOA ARG30LYS and verbal memory function in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 12, 795–796 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4002026

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