Dtnbp1, also known as dystrobrevin binding protein 1 or dysbindin, is a gene that has emerged as a potential susceptibility gene for schizophrenia [1]. It is involved in neurotransmission regulation, especially of dopamine and glutamate, and is associated with neurodevelopment [2]. Additionally, it may be related to pathways leading to multiple psychiatric phenotypes [2].

Over recent years, Dtnbp1 has been extensively studied in relation to schizophrenia. Genetic association studies have provided support for its role as a schizophrenia-susceptibility gene, although the actual susceptibility variants remain to be identified [1]. Variants of Dtnbp1 have been associated with hallucinations in schizophrenia, such as specific auditory and visual hallucinations, which is consistent with its activity in relevant processing regions and its role in regulating glutamate and dopamine activity [2]. In schizophrenic patients, Dtnbp1 gene variants have been shown to modulate prefrontal brain function, potentially through glutamatergic transmission, providing support for the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia [3]. The gene has also been investigated in relation to psychotic depression, with certain SNPs and haplotypes found to be associated with the risk of psychotic depression, suggesting a possible neurobiological link between affective disorders and schizophrenia [4].

In conclusion, Dtnbp1 plays a significant role in neurobiology, particularly in relation to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and psychotic depression. Studies on Dtnbp1 have provided insights into the genetic and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these diseases, highlighting its importance in understanding the pathophysiology of mental illnesses.

References:

1. Williams, Nigel M, O'Donovan, Michael C, Owen, Michael J. 2005. Is the dysbindin gene (DTNBP1) a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia? In Schizophrenia bulletin, 31, 800-5. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16166606/

2. Cheah, S-Y, Lawford, B R, Young, R M, Morris, C P, Voisey, J. 2015. Dysbindin (DTNBP1) variants are associated with hallucinations in schizophrenia. In European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 30, 486-91. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.01.008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25697573/

3. Fallgatter, A J, Ehlis, A-C, Herrmann, M J, Freitag, C M, Deckert, J. 2010. DTNBP1 (dysbindin) gene variants modulate prefrontal brain function in schizophrenic patients--support for the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenias. In Genes, brain, and behavior, 9, 489-97. doi:10.1111/j.1601-183X.2010.00574.x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20180862/

4. Domschke, Katharina, Lawford, Bruce, Young, Ross, Arolt, Volker, Baune, Bernhard T. 2010. Dysbindin (DTNBP1)--a role in psychotic depression? In Journal of psychiatric research, 45, 588-95. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.09.014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20951386/