Polymorphism in tryptophan hydroxylase-2 controls brain serotonin synthesis
A method of screening a subject for a serotonergic neurotransmission dysregulation disorder comprises detecting the presence or absence of an Tph2 mutation in the subject; and then determining that the subject is at increased risk of a serotonergic neurotransmission dysregulation disorder due to the presence or absence of the Tph2 mutation.
1. A method of screening a human subject comprising:
detecting the presence or absence of a mutation in at least one allele of a Tph2 gene of said human subject;
wherein said mutation encodes a change in an amino acid of the encoded Tph2 protein of SEQ ID NO: 20;
wherein said change in an amino acid is R441H; and
wherein said subject has unipolar major depression.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said detecting step is carried out by genotyping.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said detecting step includes a nucleic acid amplification step.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said detecting step includes an oligonucleotide probe hybridization step.