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Scientists in Singapore have identified a brain gene, which may hold the key to treat many disorders and diseases, a published report said on Tuesday.

The gene, named Sirtuin 2, has been found to slow down the growth of a cell responsible for the formation of a fatty sheath protecting the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, said associate professor Liang Fengyi, head of the research team at the University of Singapore.

The covering, called myelin, ensures that signals are transmitted normally from the brain to the rest of the body.

"Myelin insulates the nerve networks in our body," The Straits Times quoted Liang as saying. "Too little myelin will result in cross-talk between networks."

Abnormality in the myelin sheaths may be the cause of brain disorders such as schizophrenia, Liang said. By controlling the amount of Sirtuin 2, "we can possibly prevent this abnormal formation and hence such diseases", he added.

Liang embarked on the study three years ago. He discovered in 2005 that another gene, called Juxtanodin, speeds up the growth of myelin.

He is confident that the amount of Sirtuin 2 could be controlled with drugs within the next five years.