A 200-kb region of human chromosome 22q11.2 confers antipsychotic- responsive behavioral abnormalities in mice

Human chromosome 22q11.2 has been implicated in various behavioral abnormalities, including schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric/behavioral disorders. However, the specific genes within 22q11.2 that contribute to these disorders are still poorly understood. Here, we show that an ≈200-kb segment of human 22q11.2 causes specific behavioral abnormalities in mice. Mice that overexpress an ≈200-kb region of human 22q11.2, containing CDCrel, GP1Bβ, TBX1, and WDR14, exhibited spontaneous sensitization of hyperactivity and a lack of habituation. These effects were ameliorated by antipsychotic drugs. The transgenic mice were also impaired in nesting behavior. Although Tbx1 has been shown to be responsible for many physical defects associated with 22q11.2 haploinsufficiency, Tbx1 heterozygous mice did not display these behavioral abnormalities. Our results show that the ≈200-kb region of 22q11.2 contains a gene(s) responsible for behavioral abnormalities and suggest that distinct genetic components within 22q11.2 mediate physical and behavioral abnormalities.