<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for specifying a gene for controlling nonmovement in a tail suspension test (TST) and a forced swimming test (FST) and using the gene for elucidating the expression mechanism of mood disorders such as depression, mania etc., and developing effective mood disorder ameliorants such as antidepressant etc. ??<P>SOLUTION: It is confirmed that a responsible gene controlling a protein (USP46 protein) having a reducing action on a nonmovement time in a TST and an FST is a mutant ubiquitin-specific peptidase gene on the fifth chromosome as a result of QTL (quantitative trait loci) analysis and the usp46 gene is mutated in a mouse exhibiting an abnormal action and a nonmovement action is controlled by the usp46 gene. ??<P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT ??
