FBXL21 association with schizophrenia in irish family and case-control samples

FBXL21 gene encodes an F-box containing protein functioning in the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex. The role of the F-box protein is to recruit proteins designated for degradation to the ligase complex so they would be ubiquitinated. Using both family and case-control samples, we found consistent associations in and around FBXL21 gene. In the family sample (Irish study of high density schizophrenia families, ISHDSF, 1,350 subjects from 273 families), a minimal PDT P-value of 0.0011 was observed at rs31555. In the case-control sample (Irish case-control study of schizophrenia, ICCSS, 814 cases and 625 controls), significant associations were observed at two markers (rs1859427 P = 0.0197, and rs6861170 P = 0.0197). In haplotype analyses, haplotype 1-1 (C-T) of rs1859427-rs6861170 was overtransmitted in the ISHDSF (P = 0.0437) and was overrepresented in the ICCSS (P = 0.0177). For both samples, the associated alleles and haplotypes were identical. These data suggested that FBXL21 may be associated with schizophrenia in the Irish samples.