Serotonin 2C receptors: suicide, serotonin, and runaway RNA editing

Neuroscientist. 2003 Aug;9(4):237-42. doi: 10.1177/1073858403253669.

Abstract

Transcripts of the gene encoding the serotonin 2C receptor are modified by RNA editing, a posttranscriptional process that converts adenosines to inosines. This editing changes up to three genomically encoded amino acids located in the second intracellular loop of the G-protein-coupled receptor. Compared with nonedited receptors, extensively edited receptor isoforms activate G protein less efficiently. Studies on mice revealed that 5-HT2C pre-mRNA editing is regulated in a serotonin-dependent manner, and postmortem studies on brain tissues of patients with schizophrenia and major depression found distinct site-specific alterations of this editing in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region expressing a large number of differently edited 5-HT2C mRNA isoforms. At present, the most complex alterations in 5-HT2C pre-mRNA editing were found in brains of depressed suicide victims. In these brains, 5-HT2C receptor isoforms with reduced function are expressed at significantly increased levels, suggesting that the regulation of editing by synaptic serotonin is defective.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / physiology
  • Depression / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics*
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RNA Editing / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C
  • Receptors, Serotonin / genetics*
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / genetics
  • Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Suicide*

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Serotonin