Increased Energy Expenditure, Ucp1 Expression, and Resistance to Diet-induced Obesity in Mice Lacking Nuclear Factor-Erythroid-2-related Transcription Factor-2 (Nrf2).

The NRF2 (also known as NFE2L2) transcription factor is a critical regulator of genes involved in defense against oxidative stress. Previous studies suggest thatNrf2plays a role in adipogenesisin vitro, and deletion of theNrf2gene protects against diet-induced obesity in mice. Here, we demonstrate that resistance to diet-induced obesity inNrf2(-/-)mice is associated with a 20-30% increase in energy expenditure.

Linkage analysis of a completely ascertained sample of familial schizophrenics and bipolars from Palau, Micronesia.

We report on linkage analysis of a completely ascertained population of familial psychosis derived from the oceanic nation of Palau. Palau, an archipelago of islands in the Southern Pacific, currently has a population of approximately 23,000 individuals. The peoples of Palau populated these islands recently in human history, approximately 2,000 years ago.

Microarray screening of lymphocyte gene expression differences in a multiplex schizophrenia pedigree.

In order to help prioritize the selection of candidate genes and to study possible trait and not state related changes in gene expression, we compared lymphocytic gene expression patterns of five individual family members with schizophrenia and nine unaffected individuals from a large multiplex high density pedigree. We screened gene expression by microarray consisting of 1128 brain focused genes. Three criteria for selection of microarray gene differences between schizophrenia and unaffected family members were employed: a significant t-test, expression in a majority of subjects, and fold change magnitude.

Genetic variation at the 22q11 PRODH2/DGCR6 locus presents an unusual pattern and increases susceptibility to schizophrenia.

The location of a schizophrenia susceptibility locus at chromosome 22q11 has been suggested by genome-wide linkage studies. Additional support was provided by the observation of a higher-than-expected frequency of 22q11 microdeletions in patients with schizophrenia and the demonstration that approximately 20-30% of individuals with 22q11 microdeletions develop schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in adolescence and adulthood. Analysis of the extent of these microdeletions by using polymorphic markers afforded further refinement of this locus to a region of approximately 1.