A polymorphism associated with depressive disorders differentially regulates brain derived neurotrophic factor promoter IV activity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Changes in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression have been associated with mood disorders and cognitive dysfunction. Transgenic models that overexpress or underexpress BDNF demonstrate similar deficits in cognition and mood. We explored the hypothesis that BDNF expression is controlled by balancing the activity of BDNF promoter IV (BP4) with a negative regulatory region containing a polymorphism associated with cognitive dysfunction and mood disorders.

Methods

We used comparative genomics, transgenic mouse production, and magnetofection of primary neurons with luciferase reporters and signal transduction agonist treatments to identify novel polymorphic cis-regulatory regions that control BP4 activity.

Results

We show that BP4 is active in the

SUBMITTER: Hing B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3712170 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature