In our study we replicated SNPs in TCF4 (P = 2.53×10−10 in the European analysis) and NOTCH4 (P = 3.16×10−7 in the combined and P = 5.22×10−7 in the European analyses) that are among the top 10 most promising SCZ candidate genes.12 Other loci previously showing association with SCZ include GRIK326 (P = 3.48×10−7) and BRD127 (P = 1.53×10−7) in the combined analyses and FEZ128 (P = 3.21×10−6) in the European analysis. In the combined analyses, we replicated (P = 2.90×10−7) SNPs in an approximately 230-kb region on chromosome 10q24, which was recently reported to be associated in part with SCZ.6 This region encompasses an uncharacterized open reading frame (C10orf32) as well as AS3MT, CNNM2, and NT5C2. AS3MT may play a role in arsenic metabolism.29 CNNM2 is abundantly expressed in brain and functions as a divalent metal ion transporter,30 whereas NT5C2 hydrolyzes purine nucleotides and is involved in maintaining cellular nucleotide balance.31 A notable novel finding in the combined analysis (P = 1.69×10−5) is BCL2, which has been suggested as a marker for neuronal differentiation.32 Lower levels of BCL2 have been observed in the temporal cortex of patients with SCZ compared with controls.33
