Identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and genes (QTGs) for alcohol-related phenotypes in mice.
Alcoholism is a complex clinical disorder with genetic and environmental contributions. Although no animal model duplicates alcoholism, models for specific factors, such as the withdrawal syndrome, are useful to identify potential genetic determinants of liability in humans. Murine models have been invaluable to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that influence a variety of alcohol responses. However, the QTL regions are typically large, at least initially, and contain numerous genes, making identification of the causal quantitative trait gene(s) (QTGs) challenging. Here, we present QTG identification strategies currently used in the field of alcohol genetics and discuss relevance to alcoholic human populations.
Milner
Lauren C
LC
Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, VA Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Buck
Kari J
KJ
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000379:methods; D010641:Phenotype; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C111442:MPDZ protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins