Common SNPs in Myelin Transcription Factor 1-Like (MYT1L): Association with Major Depressive Disorder in the Chinese Han Population

BACKGROUND: Myelin transcription factor 1-like (MYT1L) is a member of the myelin transcription factor 1 (MYT1) gene family, and the neural specific, zinc-finger-containing, DNA-binding protein that it encodes plays a role in the development of the nervous system. On the basis of a recent copy number variation (CNV) study showing that this gene is disrupted in mental disorder patients, we investigated whether MYT1L also plays a role in MDD. METHODS: In this study, 8 SNPs were analyzed in 1139 MDD patients and 1140 controls of Chinese Han origin. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were noted between cases and controls for rs3748989 (allele: permutated p = 0.0079, corrected p = 0.0048, genotype: corrected p = 0.0204). A haplotype of rs1617213 and rs6759709 G-C was also significant (permutated p = 0.00007). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that MYT1L may be a potential risk gene for MDD in the Chinese Han population.