Cdna for human methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention features methods for diagnosing subjects at risk for or suffering from a disease or disorder, such as a psychosis. Methods are also provided for selecting a preferred therapy for a particular subject or group of subjects.

1 . A method of diagnosing a neurological disorder in a subject, said method comprising analyzing the MTHFR nucleic acid in a sample obtained from the subject and determining the presence of a MTHFR mutant allele at position 677 in the subject that is indicative of the subject having the neurological disorder. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mutant allele leads to a decreased level of folate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mutant allele leads to an increased level of homocysteine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mutant allele leads to a decreased level of S-adenosylmethionine or a decreased level of methylation reactions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mutant allele is homozygous. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neurological disorder is depression. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mutant allele is 677 C/T 
     
     
         8 . A method of determining a risk for a neurological disorder or a propensity for the neurological disorder in a subject, said method comprising analyzing the MTHFR nucleic acid in a sample obtained from said subject and determining the presence of at least one MTHFR mutant allele at position 677 in the subject that is indicative of the risk for the neurological disorder or the propensity for the neurological disorder in the subject. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said mutant allele leads to a decreased level of folate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said mutant allele leads to an increased level of homocysteine. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said mutant allele leads to a decreased level of S-adenosylmethionine or a decreased level of methylation reactions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said mutant allele is homozygous. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said neurological disorder is depression. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said mutant allele is 677 C/T