Posted by SLS on October 12, 2012, at 23:49:30
"The activity of a single gene sets in motion some of the brain changes seen in depression, according to a new study. The finding suggests a promising target for potential therapies."
http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/september2012/09102012depression.htm
Paraphrase:
Some genes function to control the activity of other genes. It seems that this one GATA1 gene controls the activity of 5 other genes. GATA1 turns these genes off. When these 5 genes are turned off by excessive GATA1 activity, processes that support synapse formation are impaired, and major depressive disorder (MDD) is the result. Evidence for this has been collected from post-mortem studies of humans and live studies of rats. Understanding this genetic pathway might lead to the designing of drugs with novel biological targets to treat MDD.
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1028494
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20121009/msgs/1028494.html