Seminar with Ryuji Kaji, M.D., Ph.D.
Molecular dissection of dystonia
Friday, April 27, 2007, 2:00 PM
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Seminar Room 46-3189
Hosted By Ann Graybiel

Ryuji Kaji, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Neurology
Tokushima University Graduate School of Medicine

Molecular Dissection of Dystonia

Dystonia is defined as a syndrome of sustained muscle contraction frequently causing twisting or repetitive movements or abnormal postures. It can present as a sporadic case, but frequently occurs as a complication of drug treatment for Parkinson's disease and psychosis after dopamine agonist or antagonist medications. We have recently reported loss of striosomal cells in the striatum in a hereditary dystonia DYT3, which could account for clinical presentation of dystonia. We also identified a gene causing DYT3, which has a significant role in gene transcription. The latter is similar to the putative molecular mechanism whereby Huntington disease and SCA17 are caused. In this talk, I would like to present a view on pathogenesis of dystonia based on 3-compartment model. This model is also useful in analyzing the pathogenesis of psychiatric diseases including obsessive compulsive disorder.