Project Summary

Jian Xu, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2006) of Salk Institute for Biological Studies, will study the role of two kainite subtypes of the glutamate receptor in schizophrenia. Although it is clear that glutamate receptors as a gene family play important roles in schizophrenia, the involvement of the kainate subtype of glutamate receptors has only recently begun to be explored. Dr. Xu plans to study two kainite receptors, KAl and Glur7, abnormal expression of which have been found in schizophrenia patients. To study their roles in brain disorders, Dr. Xu has engineered knockout mice lacking KA1 and GluR7 and will now determine the behavioral effects of deleting these genes.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS\Mood Disorders/Schizophrenia\Unipolar/Schizophrenia

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