Searching the Resource Information Network

Our searching services are busy right now. Please try again later

  • Register
X
Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your password you can enter your email here and get a temporary password sent to your email.

X

Leaving Community

Are you sure you want to leave this community? Leaving the community will revoke any permissions you have been granted in this community.

No
Yes

 PMID:24281383  

Mutations in the Gabrb1 gene promote alcohol consumption through increased tonic inhibition.

Quentin M Anstee | Susanne Knapp | Edward P Maguire | Alastair M Hosie | Philip Thomas | Martin Mortensen | Rohan Bhome | Alonso Martinez | Sophie E Walker | Claire I Dixon | Kush Ruparelia | Sara Montagnese | Yu-Ting Kuo | Amy Herlihy | Jimmy D Bell | Iain Robinson | Irene Guerrini | Andrew McQuillin | Elizabeth M C Fisher | Mark A Ungless | Hugh M D Gurling | Marsha Y Morgan | Steve D M Brown | David N Stephens | Delia Belelli | Jeremy J Lambert | Trevor G Smart | Howard C Thomas
Nature communications | 2013

Alcohol dependence is a common, complex and debilitating disorder with genetic and environmental influences. Here we show that alcohol consumption increases following mutations to the γ-aminobutyric acidA receptor (GABAAR) β1 subunit gene (Gabrb1). Using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis on an alcohol-averse background (F1 BALB/cAnN x C3H/HeH), we develop a mouse model exhibiting strong heritable preference for ethanol resulting from a dominant mutation (L285R) in Gabrb1. The mutation causes spontaneous GABA ion channel opening and increases GABA sensitivity of recombinant GABAARs, coupled to increased tonic currents in the nucleus accumbens, a region long-associated with alcohol reward. Mutant mice work harder to obtain ethanol, and are more sensitive to alcohol intoxication. Another spontaneous mutation (P228H) in Gabrb1 also causes high ethanol consumption accompanied by spontaneous GABA ion channel opening and increased accumbal tonic current. Our results provide a new and important link between GABAAR function and increased alcohol consumption that could underlie some forms of alcohol abuse.

Pubmed ID: 24281383

Research resources used in this publication

None found

Antibodies used in this publication

None found

Associated grants

  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: MC_U120061305
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: G0600725
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: MR/K005537/1
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: MC_U120085816
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: MC_U142684172
  • Agency: Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: G1000008
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: G84/6233
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: G0802715
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: G0600874

Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.

This is a list of tools and resources that we have found mentioned in this publication.


Ensembl (tool)

RRID:SCR_002344

Collection of genome databases for vertebrates and other eukaryotic species with DNA and protein sequence search capabilities. Used to automatically annotate genome, integrate this annotation with other available biological data and make data publicly available via web. Ensembl tools include BLAST, BLAT, BioMart and the Variant Effect Predictor (VEP) for all supported species.

View all literature mentions

BioEdit (tool)

RRID:SCR_007361

Software tool as biological sequence alignment editor written for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/7 and sequence analysis program. Provides sequence manipulation and analysis options and links to external analysis programs to view and manipulate sequences with simple point and click operations.

View all literature mentions

SigmaStat (tool)

RRID:SCR_010285

Software tool for data graphing and analysis by Systat Software, Inc.

View all literature mentions

HEK293 (tool)

RRID:CVCL_0045

Cell line HEK293 is a Transformed cell line with a species of origin Homo sapiens (Human)

View all literature mentions

C3H/HeH (tool)

RRID:MGI:2159743

laboratory mouse with name C3H/HeH from MGI.

View all literature mentions

BALB/cAnN (tool)

RRID:MGI:2159843

laboratory mouse with name BALB/cAnN from MGI.

View all literature mentions