A preliminary study on early onset schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: large polyglutamine expansions are not involved

Abstract Genetic factors are of major aetiological importance in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The exact mode of inheritance is unknown, but recent arguments in favor of genetic anticipation in those two disorders suggest that dynamic mutations could be involved. Using a new antibody, we thus explored the implication of large expanded polyglutamine tract, in a sample of very early onset schizophrenic and bipolar patients. No evidence for a specific protein with polyglutamine expansion was found in either group. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.