The mTPH2 C1473G single nucleotide polymorphism is not responsible for behavioural differences between mouse strains.
Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) is the rate limiting enzyme of serotonin synthesis in the brain. A recently described functional (C1473G) single nucleotide polymorphism in mouse TPH2 resulting in vitro in a strongly decreased enzymatic activity was suspected to be responsible for the observed differences in 5-HT levels and behaviour between mice strains. We bred two substrains of C57BL/6 mice carrying the two isoforms and could show that both exhibit equal TPH activity, brain 5-HT content and behaviour. These data indicate that the distinct behavioural characteristics of mouse strains are not due to differences in TPH2 activity, but to other variations in the genetic background.
Tenner
Katja
K
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, D-13125 Berlin, Germany.
Qadri
Fatimunnisa
F
Bert
Bettina
B
Voigt
Jörg-Peter
JP
Bader
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012701:Serotonin; C487802:Tph2 protein, mouse; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase