Kathryn J. Bjornson

Jul 16, 2024 | cell.com | Amanda M. Vanderplow |Michael Cahill |Kathryn J. Bjornson

Highlights•Beclin-1 hyper-activity occurs in the PFC of female schizophrenia subjects•Beclin-1 activity alters the biochemical signatures of autophagy in female mice only•An increased density of dendritic spines occurs in response to beclin-1 signaling•Beclin-1 has pro-cognitive effects in female, but not male, miceSummaryBased on recent genome-wide association studies, it is theorized that altered regulation of autophagy contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.