P23368

Malic enzyme 2(ME2) is a mitochondrial NAD-dependent malic enzyme. Found as a homotetramer, the main function of ME2 is to catalyze the anaplerotic reaction yielding pyruvate from (s)-malate. One single-nucleotide polymorphism of the ME2 gene has been associated with a phenotype manifested as psychosis. ME2 directly interacts with the malate shuttle system and has roles in neuronal synthesis of glutamate and gamma-amino butyric acid. This system has been shown to be altered in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which is also characterized by forms of epilepsy brought on by the role ME2 on ion channels in the brain.