[Seminar] "Circadian rhythm and genetics of Bipolar disorder" - by Prof. Mary Waye

Physics and BIology Unit would like to invite you to the seminar by Prof. Mary Waye.

Speaker

Mary Waye

Director, Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics

Ph.D. Adjunct Professor

The Nethersole School of Nursing

Faculty of Medicine

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Seminar title: Circadian rhythm and genetics of Bipolar disorder

[Abstract] Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a condition characterized by extreme mood swings. Symptoms of circadian rhythm disturbances have been well documented in bipolar disorder patients. We have previously reported a case study of a subject with monthly episodes of hypomania. We have further studied a group of 192 Chinese bipolar disorder patients in Hong Kong using a candidate gene approach. Our data show that several genes are associated with bipolar disorder, including LONRF1 (LON peptidase N-terminal domain and ring finger 1), USO1, BTRC, STX2, and SNAP29. In a model system, it was clearly shown that LONRF1 gene is one of the few genes that can be induced by light in zebrafish within an hour, thus suggesting that the LONRF1 risk alleles could contribute to psychiatric disorders due to a mechanistic defect in its regulation by light, consistent with the frequent sleep disturbance of bipolar disorder patients. SNARE protein complex could modulate the apoptotic process of neuronal cells and thus an important class of genes related to BD. More knowledge of such susceptibility genes could lead to novel therapeutic approaches and the discovery of target proteins of this devastating disease.               

Reference: 

Rao et al, Springerplus. 2015; 4: 235. doi: 10.1186/s40064-015-1002-y

[Host] Jonathan Miller, Professor, Physics and Biology Unit

Prof. Waye will be visiting OIST from January 20th to January 21st.  If you would like to meet with Prof. Waye during her visit, please contact Midori Tanahara at <e-mail: midori.tanahara [at] oist.jp>.