The human genome is thought to be 75 to 90 percent meaningless “junk DNA”, but researchers are increasingly finding that some of this junk may actually do something important. For example, new research led by Dr. Paul Albert and Dr. Eitan Friedman shows that a supposed junk region at the end of the serotonin receptor gene may play a role in major depression. Their team looked at the messenger (mRNA) made from the gene and found that the junk region is more likely to be present in people with depression. In people without depression, the junk is usually cut out through a process called alternative splicing. It turns out that the junk region attracts a complex that destabilizes the message, resulting in lower levels of the serotonin receptor in the cortex, a depression-related part of the brain. This research highlights splicing as a new way to regulate the well-known link between serotonin and depression, and could lead to new treatments. See the Journal of Neuroscience for details. Authors: Le François B, Zhang L, Mahajan GJ, Stockmeier CA, Friedman E, Albert PR

“This research opens up a whole new avenue for depression research, which could lead to new treatments,” said Dr. Paul Albert, senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and professor at the University of Ottawa.

This study is a collaboration between researchers at The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa, the University of New York and the University of Mississippi.

Funders: All research at The Ottawa Hospital is supported by generous donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. This study was also supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the University of Mississippi’s Postmortem Brain Core.

The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion 

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.

University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas

The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

Media Contact

Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73325
Cell: 613-614-5253
jganton@ohri.ca