A genetic variant of the serine racemase gene is associated with schizophrenia

Background: Serine racemase (SRR) is a brain-enriched enzyme that converts L-serine to D-serine, which acts as an endogenous ligand of N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Dysfunction of SRR may reduce the function of NMDA receptors and susceptibility to schizophrenia. Methods: We genotyped three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the 5' region of the SRR gene in 525 patients with schizophrenia and 524 healthy controls. Effects of SNPs on the promoter activity and on serum levels of total and D-serine were examined. Results: We found a significant excess of the IVS1 a+465C allele of the SRR gene in schizophrenia, especially in the paranoid subtype (p=.0028). A reporter assay showed that the IVS1a+465C allele had 60% lower promoter activity than did the IVS1a+465G allele. Conclusions: The IVS1 a+465C allele of the SRR gene, which reduces expression of the gene, is a risk factor for schizophrenia, especially the paranoid subtype.