3'(2')-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate phosphatase is reduced in postmortem frontal cortex of bipolar patients.
OBJECTIVE
3'(2')-Phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate (PAP) phosphatase is a novel lithium (Li) inhibitable enzyme. Thus the enzyme seemed an important candidate for studies of the molecular etiology of bipolar disorder.


METHODS
RT-PCR, Western-blot analysis and Pi liberation were used to measure PAP phosphatase mRNA levels, protein levels and enzyme activity (respectively) in postmortem frontal cortex specimens of bipolar patients versus normal subjects.


RESULTS
The PAP phosphatase protein levels were 24% significantly lower in bipolar patients than in normal subjects. PAP phosphatase mRNA levels and enzymatic activity did not differ between normal controls and bipolar patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormality of PAP phosphatase in bipolar patients offers a new direction for study of bipolar disorder etiology.
Shaltiel
G
G
Stanley Research Center and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel.
Kozlovsky
N
N
Belmaker
R H
RH
Agam
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; C027342:3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate phosphohydrolase