The neurotransmitter GABA activates heteropentameric GABA A receptors, which are composed mostly of ␣, ␤, and ␥2 subunits. Regulated membrane trafficking and subcellular targeting of GABA A receptors is important for determining the efficacy of GABAergic inhibitory function. Of special interest is the ␥2 subunit, which is mostly dispensable for assembly and membrane insertion of functional receptors but essential for accumulation of GABA A receptors at synapses. In a search for novel receptor trafficking proteins, we have used the SOS-recruitment system and isolated a Golgi-specific DHHC zinc finger protein (GODZ) as a novel ␥2 subunit-interacting protein.GODZ is a member of the superfamily of DHHC cysteine-rich domain (DHHC-CRD) polytopic membrane proteins shown recently in yeast to represent palmitoyltransferases. GODZ mRNA is found in many tissues; however, in brain the protein is detected in neurons only and highly concentrated and asymmetrically distributed in the Golgi complex. GODZ interacts with a cysteine-rich 14-amino acid domain conserved specifically in the large cytoplasmic loop of ␥1-3 subunits but not in other GABA A receptor subunits. Coexpression of GODZ and GABA A receptors in heterologous cells results in palmitoylation of the ␥2 subunit in a cytoplasmic loop domain-dependent manner. Neuronal GABA A receptors are similarly palmitoylated. Thus, GODZ-mediated palmitoylation represents a novel posttranslational modification that is selective for ␥ subunit-containing GABA A receptor subtypes, a mechanism that is likely to be important for regulated trafficking of these receptors in the secretory pathway.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to increase the understanding of the experiences of individuals with thought disorders, which precede incidents of aggression. Twelve individuals, from two hospitals, who had a nursing diagnosis of thought disorder and a history of aggression were interviewed, between one and four times, to collect baseline information and information about particular aggressive incidents. The participants described in their own words their thoughts, feelings and experiences preceding the aggressive incidents. Three themes emerged. First, participants perceived themselves to be strongly affected by the external environment; their responses to aspects of the environment were influential in precipitating the aggressive incident. Second, participants perceived themselves, paradoxically, to be both powerful and powerless; the act of aggression becomes an incident of brief self-empowerment. Third, the aggressive incident occurred in spite of the participants' acknowledgement and previous use of anger-controlling strategies; the participants' perceptions of themselves as powerless in an oppressive environment may have mitigated against the success of these strategies. Nurses need to know what triggers aggressiveness in psychiatric patients, in order to intervene effectively. Mental health professionals must also reexamine the psychiatric hospital environment, to make sure they are not needlessly exacerbating their patients' powerlessness with policies that are unjustifiably controlling.

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Individuals with schizophrenia have a high prevalence of smoking compared with the general population and little is known about why so many people with schizophrenia smoke. This paper reviews suggestions of differences in motivation for smoking. Possible explanations for smoking include psychological reasons, together with possible effects on positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and reduced side-effects of neuroleptics. Understanding complex issues related to smoking and schizophrenia is important prior to developing health promotion strategies.