Scientists Discover Gene Varient that Makes Mice Alcoholics

Scientists have discovered that a variant of a gene that is involved the communications that go on between the brain cells also plays a part in the level of alcohol consumption in lab mice. It is too early yet to know whether or not there is a gene variant in humans that is similar to the one in the mice and also has a similar effect on alcohol consumption

The gene is called Grm7, and its job is to encode a subtype of the gene that works on inhibiting the release of glutamate as well as other neurotransmitter molecules. These molecules are what the brain cells use to communicate.

The variant that they discovered reduces the amount of Grm7 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the tissues of the brain. mRNA acts as a molecular intermediate between the gene and the protein it produces. The mice who had this one variant drank more alcohol than the mice who had a higher level of Grm7 mRNA in the brain.

For a long time now, scientists have known that genes contribute to the risk of a person developing alcoholism. But, because there are many of the genes and with many different environmental factors that enter into the equation, it has been difficult to isolate the individual genes.

In order to overcome all of the variables, the researchers used different genetic as well as analytic methods in animals who had almost the same genetic background, but had different preferences for alcohol, first to identify a specific chromosomal region, where they eventually found the Grm7 gene and were able to determine that it is associated with alcohol preference.

It the studies that they plan on doing prove that there is a similar gene variant that has the same effect in humans that it does in mice, then there is a strong possibility that they will be able to develop drugs that will be effective in treating those with alcohol dependence. They speculate that any drugs that are developed will aim to control the level of the product of the Grm7 gene or else they will control the activity of the gene product.