title: Presynaptic targets for acute ethanol sensitivity.
abstract: Acute exposure to ethanol is known to modulate signalling within the nervous system. Physiologically these effects are both presynaptic and postsynaptic in origin; however, considerably more research has focused primarily on postsynaptic targets. Recent research using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans has determined a role for specific proteins (Munc18-1 and Rab3) and processes (synaptic vesicle recruitment and fusion) in transducing the presynaptic effects of ethanol. In the present paper, we review these results, identifying the proteins and protein interactions involved in ethanol sensitivity and discuss their links with mammalian studies of alcohol abuse.
authors.affiliation: The Physiological Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK. barclayj@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jeff W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Burgoyne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051938:Munc18 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050600:SNARE Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D051938:Munc18 Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D000431:Ethanol; D020691:rab GTP-Binding Proteins