Project Summary

Paula Ulery, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, is studying ∆FosB, a protein whose levels are dramatically increased in the brain of lab animals following administration of various psychiatric treatments, including those used to battle schizophrenia and depression (e.g., electroconvulsive seizures (ECS), certain anti-depressants, and certain anti-psychotics).  Once this protein is induced in the brain, it can persist for weeks to months, even after treatment has stopped, which makes it potentially very important as it is a transcription factor and can regulate the expression of other genes.  Dr. Ulery believes this unusually stable transcription factor can mediate long-term changes in gene expression in the brain, and may constitute a “molecular switch” involved in the transition between the “old” and “new” brain, the latter resulting from adaptations in response to chronic stimuli.  As treatments used in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders can induce this protein and its modifications in animals, Dr Ulery's study will be relevant towards understanding the molecular basis of changes that might accompany such treatment in humans as well.

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

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