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D J Müller

Publications and source records attributed to D J Müller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Atomic force bio-analytics.

The atomic force microscope (AFM) allows biomolecules to be observed and manipulated under native conditions. It operates in buffer solution, produces molecular images with outstanding signal-to-noise ratio, and addresses single molecules. Progress in sample preparation and instrumentation has led to topographs that reveal sub-nanometer details and surface dynamics of biomolecules. Antibodies or oligonucleotides immobilized on cantilevers induce bending upon binding of the cognate biomolecule, allowing sub-picomolar concentrations to be measured. Biomolecules tethered between support and retracting AFM-tip produce force extension curves that reflect the mechanical stability of secondary structure elements. Furthermore, multifunctional tips may activate single molecules to observe them at work. In all cases, the cantilever is critical: its mechanical properties dictate the force-sensitivity and the scanning speed.

Microscopy, Atomic Force↗

Different negative priming impairments in schizophrenia and subgroups of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Inhibitory functioning is assumed to be deficient in some psychiatric disorders, most notably in patients with schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In order to investigate inhibitory functioning, priming tasks are commonly used. The present paradigm offers the opportunity to isolate specific distractor features (identity, location) for independent examination. METHODS: Negative priming (NP) for stimulus identity and location was examined in patients with schizophrenia (N = 16), patients with OCD (N = 15) and matched controls (N = 16). All groups performed a referent size-selection task in which they were instructed successively to select the larger one of two cardinal numbers. The deeper processing of both stimuli was expected to yield large NP effects that allow the detection of subtle group differences. RESULTS: Large NP effects were found for stimulus identity in all three groups. Schizophrenic patients differed from normal controls with respect to the amount of incidental location priming. Subgroup analyses of OCD patients showed NP impairments for checkers when the response-stimulus interval (RSI) was short, but large identity NP when the RSI was long. OCD non-checkers showed normal NP patterns with short RSI, but reduced identity NP with longer RSI. CONCLUSIONS: Schizophrenic patients do not show the ability to use spatial selective attention in order to guide their actions as shown by normal controls. Information processing was differentially impaired in OCD subgroups (checkers and non-checkers) dependent on RSI variation. This result supports those studies that found reduced NP in OCD patients and points to the necessity of differential subgroup studies.

Adult↗

Sampling effects influence heights measured with atomic force microscopy.

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is an exquisitely delicate probe measuring the height of a specimen at discrete sampling points in a fixed two-dimensional (2D) raster. The resulting topograph is a 2D digital image, with each pixel representing a distinct height measurement. The height of an object is determined as the average of the maximum heights measured above the supporting surface. We show that such object heights derived from a variety of organic samples depend critically on the sampling or pixel size of the 2D raster. It is concluded that to obtain accurate specimen heights, the pixel size must be small enough to resolve submolecular structures and thus ensure representative sampling of the height variation on the surface.

Bacillus Phages↗

A genome screen for genes predisposing to bipolar affective disorder detects a new susceptibility locus on 8q.

Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), also known as manic depressive illness, is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression. It has a lifetime prevalence of approximately 1% in all human populations. In order to identify chromosomal regions containing genes that play a role in determining susceptibility to this psychiatric condition, we have conducted a complete genome screen with 382 markers (average marker spacing of 9.3 cM) in a sample of 75 BPAD families which were recruited through an explicit ascertainment scheme. Pedigrees were of German, Israeli and Italian origin, respectively. Parametric and non-parametric linkage analysis was performed. The highest two-point LOD score was obtained on 8q24 (D8S514; LOD score = 3.62), in a region that has not attracted much attention in previous linkage studies of BPAD. The second best finding was seen on 10q25-q26 (D10S217; LOD score = 2.86) and has been reported in independent studies of BPAD. Other regions showing 'suggestive' evidence for linkage localized to 1p33-p36, 2q21-q33, 3p14, 3q26-q27, 6q21-q22, 8p21, 13q11 and 14q12-q13. In addition, we aimed at detecting possible susceptibility loci underlying genomic imprinting by analyzing the autosomal genotype data with the recently developed extension of the GENEHUNTER program, GENEHUNTER-IMPRINTING. Putative paternally imprinted loci were identified in chromosomal regions 2p24-p21 and 2q31-q32. Maternally imprinted susceptibility genes may be located on 14q32 and 16q21-q23.

Bipolar Disorder↗

The central plug in the reconstituted undecameric c cylinder of a bacterial ATP synthase consists of phospholipids.

The isolated rotor cylinder of the ATP synthase from Ilyobacter tartaricus was reconstituted into two-dimensional crystalline arrays. Atomic force microscopy imaging indicated a central cavity on one side of the rotor and a central plug protruding from the other side. Upon incubation with phospholipase C, the plug disappeared, but the appearance of the surrounding c subunit oligomer was not affected. This indicates that the plug consists of phospholipids. As the detergent-purified c cylinder is completely devoid of phospholipids, these are incorporated into the central hole from one side of the cylinder during the reconstitution procedure.

Fusobacterium↗

ATP synthase: constrained stoichiometry of the transmembrane rotor.

Recent structural data suggest that the number of identical subunits (c or III) assembled into the cation-powered rotor of F1F0 ATP synthase depends on the biological origin. Atomic force microscopy allowed individual subunits of the cylindrical transmembrane rotors from spinach chloroplast and from Ilyobacter tartaricus ATP synthase to be directly visualized in their native-like environment. Occasionally, individual rotors exhibit structural gaps of the size of one or more subunits. Complete rotors and arch-shaped fragments of incomplete rotors revealed the same diameter within one ATP synthase species. These results suggest the rotor diameter and stoichiometry to be determined by the shape of the subunits and their nearest neighbor interactions.

ATP Synthetase Complexes↗

Lack of association between a functional polymorphism of the cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) gene and tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a common side effect of long-term medication with typical neuroleptics. TD presents itself by abnormal involuntary movements and may lead to a potentially disabling and chronic clinical course. A vast majority of patients suffering from schizophrenia are smokers. Smoking has been reported to induce the activity of the CYP1A2 enzyme, which is an established metabolic pathway within the disposition of antipsychotics. Recently, a C-->A genetic polymorphism in the first intron of the CYP1A2 gene was reported to influence CYP1A2 activity in smokers. Subsequently, a pharmacogenetic study in 85 U.S. patients with schizophrenia (44 smokers, 41 individuals with unknown smoking status) showed the C/C genotype to be associated with higher TD severity (measured by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, AIMS) than the A/C or A/A genotype. This finding prompted us to investigate whether this effect was also present in a larger German sample of 119 patients with schizophrenia (82 smokers, 37 individuals with unknown smoking status). However, we could not replicate the reported association. The median AIMS scores did not differ between individuals with the A/A, A/C, or C/C genotypes. In an additional analysis, we compared the genotypic and allelic distribution among individuals grouped according to the criteria established by Schooler and Kane [1982: Arch Gen Psychiatry 39:486-487] (persistent TD vs. absent TD). We did not observe a differential genotypic or allelic distribution between the two diagnostic groups. Thus, our results do not support the hypothesis that the C-->A polymorphism in the CYP1A2 gene is involved in the etiology of TD in the German population.

Adult↗

No evidence for linkage by transmission disequilibrium test analysis of microsatellite marker D22S278 and schizophrenia in a Palestinian Arab and in a German population.

Linkage for a schizophrenia susceptibility locus on chromosome region 22q12-q13 was initially suggested by independent studies from two groups and confirmed in a combined analysis of data for the microsatellite marker D22S278 in multiply affected schizophrenic families derived from 11 independent research groups worldwide. In addition to these reports of linkage to schizophrenia on chromosome 22, bipolar disorder has also been linked to markers in this chromosomal region. We now report results from an analysis of 223 Palestinian Arab trios from three different centers in Israel and Palestine using the allele-wise extended transmission disequilibrium test for multiallelic markers. No evidence for linkage is observed in the entire group or in any of the three centers (entire group: chi-square = 5.59, P = 0.78, df = 9; Afula: chi-square = 6.51, P = 0.48, df = 7; Bethlehem: chi-square = 14.11, P = 0.12, df = 9; Beersheva: chi-square = 7.04, P = 0.32, df = 6). Additionally, we examined D22S278 in a group of 114 schizophrenic German triads and failed to observe evidence for linkage (chi-square = 8.13, P = 0.42, df = 8df).

Alleles↗

Caught in the trio trap? Potential selection bias inherent to association studies using parent-offspring trios.

During the last years, the validity of classic case control studies in psychiatric genetic research has been increasingly under question due to the risk of population stratification problems inherent to this type of association study. By consequence, the application of family-based association studies using parent-offspring trios has been strongly advocated. Recently, however, in a study comparing clinical characteristics between index patients from parent-offspring trios and singleton patients with bipolar affective disorder, the question was raised whether a systematic neglect of case control association studies could lead to a selection bias of susceptibility genes. In a similar approach, we compared demographic and clinical characteristics of 122 singleton bipolar patients with those of 54 bipolar patients derived from parent-offspring trios. The singleton patients did not only present with a higher age of onset, but also with a higher frequency of suicidal behavior and a higher familial loading for suicidality. These findings suggest that the genetic mechanism for disease might be different between trio-based and classic case control samples, where patients are examined whose parents are not available for genetic studies. Thus, giving up case control designs for the sake of family-based association studies could be at the risk of selecting against several genetically determined factors.

Adult↗

A family-based study of the Cys23Ser 5HT2C serotonin receptor polymorphism in schizophrenia.

The 5HT2C receptor has a high affinity for clozapine, a nontypical neuroleptic, and has therefore been postulated to play a role in mediating negative symptoms and neuroleptic response in schizophrenia. In the current study, the Cys23Ser 5HT2C serotonin receptor polymorphism was examined for linkage to schizophrenia by genotyping 207 nuclear families consisting of both parents and schizophrenic child and using the transmission disequilibrium test to examine possible preferential transmission of these alleles from 68 heterozygous mothers to their ill child. No evidence was obtained for preferential transmission of the Cys23Ser 5HT2C alleles in schizophrenia in either of the two main ethnic groups examined (German and Palestinian Arab) or in the combined cohort (TDT chi-square = 0.00, NS).

Adolescent↗

Major psychoses symptomatology: factor analysis of 2241 psychotic subjects.

Current nosography classifies major psychoses as separate disorders, but their symptomatological presentation during illness episodes largely overlaps and diagnoses may change during a lifetime. Few analyses of major psychoses symptomatology have been performed so far because of the large number of subjects needed to obtain stable factors. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to identify the symptomatologic structure common to major psychoses based on lifetime symptoms. Two thousand and forty-one inpatients affected by schizophrenic (n=1008), bipolar (n=563), major depressive (n=352), delusional (n=108) and psychotic not otherwise specified disorder (n=210) were rated for lifetime symptoms using the Operational Criteria Checklist for Psychotic Illness (OPCRIT) and included in a factorial analysis. Four factors were obtained, the first consisted of excitement symptoms, the second comprised psychotic features (delusions and hallucinations), the third comprised depression and the fourth disorganization. When scored by the OPCRIT checklist, major psychoses symptomatology is composed of excitement, depressive, delusion and disorganization symptoms.

Adult↗

From images to interactions: high-resolution phase imaging in tapping-mode atomic force microscopy.

In tapping-mode atomic force microscopy, the phase shift between excitation and response of the cantilever is used as a material-dependent signal complementary to topography. The localization of information in the phase signal is demonstrated with 1.4-nm lateral resolution on purple membrane of Halobacterium salinarum in buffer solution. In a first-order approximation, the phase signal is found to correlate with modulations of the tip oscillation amplitude, induced by topography. Extending the analysis to contributions of the tip-sample interaction area as a second-order approximation, a method is proposed to extract information about the interaction from the phase signal for surfaces with a roughness in the order of the tip radius.

Buffers↗

Affective symptomatology in schizophrenia: a risk factor for tardive dyskinesia?

Affective symptomatology has repeatedly been suggested to confer susceptibility to tardive dyskinesia (TD). In our sample of 174 schizophrenic patients a history of depressive symptoms was not associated with the occurrence of TD, whereas manic symptomatology was significantly associated with the absence of TD. Thus, our data suggest that affective symptomatology cannot unambiguously be considered to predispose to TD.

Adult↗

Familial occurrence of tardive dyskinesia.

OBJECTIVE: Familial occurrence of tardive dyskinesia (TD) and schizophrenia has been hypothesized to confer risk to the development of TD. We investigated these hypotheses in a large patient sample applying standardized methods for phenotype characterization. METHOD: Two hundred and twenty-two patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were assessed for TD and for family history of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Thirty-nine patients had 40 affected first-degree family members, one patient having two first-degree relatives. Of these, 17 pairs and one triplet were personally examined. RESULTS: 1) There was a tendency for TD in the affected relatives to be associated with the TD status of the index-patient; this finding was unrelated to age and doses of neuroleptic medication. 2) No association between a family history of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and TD was found. CONCLUSION: A family history of TD might represent a risk factor for TD, whereas a family history of schizophrenia does not.

Adult↗

A possible susceptibility locus for bipolar affective disorder in chromosomal region 10q25--q26.

In an attempt to identify susceptibility loci for bipolar affective disorder, we are currently conducting a systematic genome screen with highly polymorphic microsatellite markers at an average marker spacing of 10 cM in a series of 75 families, comprising 66 families from Germany, eight families from Israel, and one family from Italy. The families were ascertained through index cases with bipolar affective disorder. The distribution of diagnoses is as follows: 126 individuals with bipolar I disorder, 40 with bipolar II disorder, 14 with schizoaffective disorder of the bipolar type, 40 individuals with recurrent unipolar depression, 51 with a minor psychiatric diagnosis, and two individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. One hundred and seventy-one individuals are unaffected. Here, we present results from chromosome 10. Linkage analyses using a total of 33 microsatellite markers with parametric and non-parametric methods provided evidence for linkage at chromosomal region 10q25--q26. The highest two-point LOD score (2.86, theta = 0.05) was obtained for D10S217 using a dominant genetic model and a broad definition of affection status. The GENEHUNTER program localized the putative susceptibility locus within a ca 15-cM interval between markers D10S1483 and D10S217 with a maximum NPL(all) score of 3.12 (P = 0.0013). Positive linkage findings that have been reported by two independent studies further support the hypothesis of a susceptibility gene for bipolar affective disorder on 10q25-q26.

Bipolar Disorder↗

Bacterial Na(+)-ATP synthase has an undecameric rotor.

Synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by the F(1)F(0) ATP synthase involves a membrane-embedded rotary engine, the F(0) domain, which drives the extra-membranous catalytic F(1) domain. The F(0) domain consists of subunits a(1)b(2) and a cylindrical rotor assembled from 9-14 alpha-helical hairpin-shaped c-subunits. According to structural analyses, rotors contain 10 c-subunits in yeast and 14 in chloroplast ATP synthases. We determined the rotor stoichiometry of Ilyobacter tartaricus ATP synthase by atomic force microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy, and show the cylindrical sodium-driven rotor to comprise 11 c-subunits.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

No association between the dopamine D3 receptor Bal I polymorphism and schizophrenia in a family-based study of a Palestinian Arab population.

Several recent meta-analyses appear to show a weak but significant effect of both forms of the gly/ser DRD3 polymorphism in conferring risk for schizophrenia. Since most studies have employed the artifact-prone case-control design, we thought it worthwhile to examine the role of this polymorphism using a robust family-based strategy in an ethnic group not previously systematically studied in psychiatric genetics, Palestinian Arabs. We failed to obtain any evidence in 129 Palestinian triads, using the haplotype relative risk (allele frequency: Pearson chi-square = 0.009, P > 0.1, df = 1, n = 258 alleles) or transmission disequilibrium test design (chi-square = 0.38, P > 0.1, n = 86 families) for association/linkage (or increased homozygosity) of the DRD3 Bal I polymorphism to schizophrenia in our sample. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:778-780, 2000.

Alleles↗