Project Summary

Hung-Teh Kao, M.D., Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. at the Nathan Kline Institute, will examine the regulation of a biochemical pathway by neurotrophins, a family of growth factors that are important for the survival and development of nerve cells.  These factors are being increasingly recognized as relevant to psychiatric disorders.  Recently, it was discovered that a protein called ARPP-19 acts to stabilize proteins involved in nerve cell development; this process requires neurotrophins in order to occur.  Dr. Kao will examine how phosphorylation, a chemical modification, regulates ARPP-19 activity, and the class of messenger RNA that ARPP-19 regulates.  In addition, the control of messenger RNA stability will be examined for other members of proteins related to ARPP-19.  These studies may provide new insights into the mechanisms by which neurotrophins act, and clarify their role in psychiatric illnesses.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS\Schizophrenia/Unipolar\Pharmacology

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