title: Natural variation in the npr-1 gene modifies ethanol responses of wild strains of C. elegans.
abstract: Variation in the acute response to ethanol between individuals has a significant impact on determining susceptibility to alcoholism. The degree to which genetics contributes to this variation is of great interest. Here we show that allelic variation that alters the functional level of NPR-1, a neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor-like protein, can account for natural variation in the acute response to ethanol in wild strains of Caenorhabditis elegans. NPR-1 negatively regulates the development of acute tolerance to ethanol, a neuroadaptive process that compensates for effects of ethanol. Furthermore, dynamic changes in the NPR-1 pathway provide a mechanism for ethanol tolerance in C. elegans. This suggests an explanation for the conserved function of NPY-related pathways in ethanol responses across diverse species. Moreover, these data indicate that genetic variation in the level of NPR-1 function determines much of the phenotypic variation in adaptive behavioral responses to ethanol that are observed in natural populations.
authors.affiliation: Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Department of Neurology, Programs in Neuroscience and Biomedical Science, University of California, San Francisco, 5858 Horton Street, Suite 200, Emeryville, California 94608, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Jill C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bettinger
authors.forename: Tod R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.forename: Meredith E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Judy
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McIntire
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000235:genetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012919:Social Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C468272:NPR-1 protein, C elegans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D000431:Ethanol