Could the genome of a tiny worm help improve our understanding of the genetic basis of alcoholism in humans? New research from University of Liverpool scientists offers hope.
Scientists from the University of Liverpool in the UK found a genetic mutation that increased the tolerance of alcohol in nematode worms. Nematodes were used, not because of their preference for a tipple, but because their genome has been sequenced and it makes it much easier for scientists to be able to identify genes.
Alcoholism is a complex disorder and genes do play a part. It's been known for years that the disease can run in families and structural and biochemical changes in the brains of addicts have been observed. Millions of people are affected by alcoholism; the drinkers, and their famlies and friends, so there is an urgent need to find any genes related to alcoholism.
Genes and Alcoholism
In this new research scientists were looking at the role genes played in communication between cells in the nervous system. They detected a subtle change in a gene. This resulted in an amino acid change in a key protein called UNC-18, or Munc 18-1 in humans. The effect of this mutation was to scramble some of the communication in the nervous system such that it increased worm tolerance of alcohol. Their bodies were less sensitive to its affects.
The research was published in Molecular Biology of the Cell and now that the link has been established in worms, the next step is to see if the same mutation exists in the human version of the gene. In the press release to accompany this research co-author Dr Jeff Barclay said, "Now that we have shown the link between the gene and alcohol tolerance in worms, it is possible to search the human gene to see if there are any spontaneous changes that could help identify individuals with a predisposition to alcoholism."
More Research
The work by scientists from the University of Liverpool comes hot on the heels of research by a team from Oregon Health and Science University that found a link between a genetic mutation in mice and alcohol tolerance.
Slowly our picture of the genetics of alcoholism is being revealed and the more that is known the sooner screening methods could be employed to detect those at risk of succumbing to the bottle, as well as offering potential treatments and therapies.
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