In summary, we have identified the extrinsic neurotransmitter GABA-induced depolarizing signaling as a key target of the intrinsic factor DISC1 in regulating distinct aspects of neuronal development during adult neurogenesis and early postnatal neurogenesis after stress. A synergistic interaction between DISC1 and depolarizing GABA signaling also appears to affect risk for schizophrenia. Our results suggest a context-dependent role for a prominent schizophrenia susceptibility gene in neuronal development. Thus, elucidating specific contextual conditions that can trigger the deleterious effects of susceptibility genes in neuronal development may be critical for understanding the pathogenesis of mental disorders.
