Identification of a male schizophrenic patient carrying a de novo balanced translocation, t(4; 13)(p16.1; q21.31)

Abstract

Herein is reported the case of a male patient with schizophrenia who displayed a de novo balanced translocation between the short arm of chromosome 4 and the long arm of chromosome 13, t(4; 13)(p16.1; q21.31). The 4p16.1 region is where the causative gene (WFS1) for Wolfram syndrome has been mapped. In Wolfram syndrome, approximately 60% of patients suffer from major mental illness. The other breakpoint, chromosome 13q21.31, is another region where previous linkage studies have repeatedly detected linkage to schizophrenia. The documentation of the present case could therefore provide a valuable resource for identifying disease susceptibility genes by localizing the breakpoints.