Zinc finger proteins in psychiatric disorders and response to psychotropic medications

Psychiatr Genet. 2019 Oct;29(5):132-141. doi: 10.1097/YPG.0000000000000231.

Abstract

Zinc finger proteins are a large family of abundantly expressed small motifs that play a crucial role in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms. Findings published so far support an involvement of zinc fingers in psychiatric disorders. Most of the evidence has been provided for the zinc finger protein 804A (ZNF804A) gene, which has been suggested to be implicated in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This evidence has been corroborated by a wide range of functional studies showing that ZNF804A regulates the expression of genes involved in cell adhesion and plays a crucial role in neurite formation and maintenance of dendritic spines. On the other hand, far less is known on other zinc finger proteins and their involvement in psychiatric disorders. In this review, we discussed studies exploring the role of zinc finger proteins in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder as well as in pharmacogenetics of psychotropic drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bipolar Disorder / genetics
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Psychotic Disorders / genetics*
  • Psychotropic Drugs / adverse effects*
  • Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use
  • Schizophrenia / genetics
  • Zinc Fingers / genetics*

Substances

  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • ZNF804A protein, human