title: Modulation of D-serine levels in brains of mice lacking PICK1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  D-serine is an endogenous coagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype glutamate receptor. Genetic association studies have implicated genes coding for enzymes associated with D-serine metabolism in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Protein expression of serine racemase (SR) and its binding partner, protein interacting with C-kinase (PICK1), were examined by Western blotting in brains from wildtype and PICK1 knockout mice. Levels of D-serine in wildtype and PICK1 mice were also examined by an established high-pressure liquid chromatography protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of SR and PICK1 proteins was developmentally regulated. Although no change was observed in the level of SR protein, levels of D-serine were selectively decreased in the forebrain of neonatal PICK1 knockout mice, compared with those in wildtype mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PICK1 may be involved in the regulation of brain D-serine levels and SR in a spatially and temporally specific manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Takatoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hikida
authors.forename: Asif K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Roxanne K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Huganir
authors.forename: Solomon H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawa
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D000099300:Serine Racemase
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases; D012694:Serine; D000099300:Serine Racemase; C091822:Prkcabp protein, mouse