Univ.-Prof. Dr. Weiqi Zhang

The molecular pathogenetic mechanisms of many psychiatric diseases such as autisms, anxiety disorders, depression as well as schizophrenia are under controversial debates. Polymorphisms of different candidate genes serve as susceptibility factors that might play an important role in the etiology of these diseases. So far little is known about the impacts of different polymorphisms of candidate genes in brain function. Using mutant mouse models, we investigate the functional role of different key molecules, such as neuregulin, ErbB4, RGS, neuroligin, neurexin, DHHC7 etc., in brain function. We like to test the hypothesis that the dynamic regulations of cortical synaptic interconnections and adult neurogenesis play an essential role in proper function. Changes in genes for these key proteins would cause disturbance of age-specific regulation of cortical synaptic interconnections and adult neurogenesis that will lead to specific functional loss up to severe psychiatric diseases.