Identification of genetic variants in the neuronal form of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2).
OBJECTIVE
We screened the complete protein coding sequence of the newly identified neuronal form of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2) for genetic variants.


METHODS
Genomic DNA samples from 24 African-Americans and 24 Caucasian-Americans in the Coriell human variation collection were screened by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography followed by sequencing.


RESULTS
We identified a number of genetic variants in both the coding and exon-flanking intronic sequences. Only one variant was identified that predicts a structural change in the TPH2 protein, and this was seen in only one out of 96 chromosomes.


CONCLUSIONS
The gene for TPH2 contains a number of polymorphisms that might serve as useful markers for association analyses of complex behavioral phenotypes or as actual risk factors. Structural polymorphisms are extremely rare in TPH2 and cannot therefore act as substantial risk factors for behavioral disorders in African-American and Caucasian populations.
Breidenthal
Sherry E
SE
UCLA Center for Neurobehavioural Genetics, Gonda Center, Los Angeles, California 90095-1761, USA.
White
Daniel J
DJ
Glatt
Charles E
CE
D001741:Black or African American; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People
D004247:DNA; C494784:TPH2 protein, human; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase