Comparative proteomic analysis of the prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus, and hippocampus in mice model of affective disorders Disc1-Q31L-/- (Q31L) and wild-type mice

Mutations in the human DISC1 gene are one of the main risk factors of affective disorders. This study, for the first time, evaluates the proteomic composition of the most relevant structures: the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus in the Disc1-Q31L-/- (Q31L) mouse model of affective disorders.

Mass spectrometry was conducted and unique proteome of each brain area were annotated using “Panther GO database”. In Q31L cortex and hippocampus showed decrease in immunity related proteins, processes and molecular functions, whereas proteins involved in RNA-related processes were opverrepresented. Also 39 unique signaling pathways, were identified in the prefrontal cortex, 22 specific signaling pathways, primarily affecting the neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine systems in the hippocampus, and 38 hypothalamic signaling pathways, including those involved in immune and inflammatory responses, oxi-dative stress, neurotransmitter synthesis, and vesicular transport.