Association study between genetic variants at the VAMP2 and VAMP3 loci and bipolar affective disorder.

Objectives: Vesicle-associated membrane proteins 2 and 3 (VAMP2 and VAMP3) are required for the release of D-serine, a competitive agonist of the neurotransmitter glycine at the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Several lines of evidence point to an involvement of altered D-serine levels in the central nervous system in the aetiology of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Strong association findings between BPAD and two genes, G72 and DAAO, which are involved in the enzymatic degradation of D-serine, are reported.