Control of Alcohol Responses by Actin-Regulating Genes

Ut Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX

Investigators

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Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Alcohol abuse disorders are a major health care concern that affect millions of people every year in the United States. Alcoholism has a significant genetic etiology, but few genes are known that significantly contribute to the development of the disease. The goal of this proposal is to study genes regulating the actin cytoskeleton, and the molecular mechanisms by which they do so, to regulate ethanol-induced behaviors in Drosophila. This idea emerged in parallel in two model organisms. First, previous genetic screens for Drosophila mutants with altered behavioral responses to alcohol identified mutations in multiple genes regulating the actin cytoskeleton. Second, mice with a knock-out of an actin regulatory protein also showed altered responses to alcohol, including increased voluntary drinking. We therefore postulate that the dynamic regulation of the actin cytoskeleton is a major determinant of behavioral responses to ethanol. We propose genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cell culture approaches to define the roles of two small GTPase pathways, the Arf6, and Rho-family of GTPases in regulating alcohol-induced behaviors. First, we will study how two distinct isoforms of a regulatory protein of Rho-GTPases, RhoGAP18B, are differentially involved in the regulation of both ethanol-induced hyperactivity, and sedation. Second, we will test mutations in members of the Arf6 signaling pathway for their responses to alcohol. Arf6 regulates membrane traffic and actin dynamics at the plasma membrane. We will use genetic, and biochemical approaches to define what the molecular links are between the Rho and Arf6 signaling pathways. Third, we will test the contribution of other actin regulatory genes to ethanol-induced behaviors, notably the role of cofilin, an actin-severing protein that controls the balance between free globular and filamentous actin protein. The members of these small GTPase signaling pathways are highly conserved from Drosophila to mammals, and some are known to participate in complex behaviors such as learning and memory, in vertebrates and invertebrates. We predict that these pathways are also functionally conserved in their regulation of ethanol-induced behaviors. Alcoholism is a devastating disease that severely impacts personal, and public health. The proposed research will advance our understanding of the genetic basis for the development of alcoholism. This in turn, will result in the identification of new risk factors and potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of alcohol abuse disorders.