Navigation Links
Variation in bitter-taste receptor gene increases risk for alcoholism

A team of researchers, led by investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has found that a gene variant for a bitter-taste receptor on the tongue is associated with an increased risk for alcohol dependence.The research team studied DNA samples from 262 families, all of which have at least three alcoholic individuals. The families are participating in a national study called the Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). COGA investigators report in the January issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics on the variation in a taste receptor gene on chromosome 7 called TAS2R16.

"In earlier work, we had identified chromosome 7 as a region where there was likely to be a gene influencing alcoholism risk," says principal investigator Alison M. Goate, D. Phil., the Samuel and Mae S. Ludwig Professor of Genetics in Psychiatry at Washington University. "There's a cluster of bitter-taste receptor genes on that chromosome, and there have been several papers suggesting drinking behaviors might be influenced by variations within taste receptors. So we decided to look closely at these taste receptor genes."

Because taste receptors tend to vary a lot in the general population, Goate and colleagues had the opportunity to look at a large number of differences in genetic sequences and determine whether certain sequences might influence risk. In this study, they concentrated on TAS2R16, which helps regulate the response to bitter tastes.

They found a single base variation in the TAS2R16 receptor gene that seemed to put people at an increased risk for alcoholism. In cell culture experiments, Goate found that the variant receptor produced by this gene was less responsive to bitter compounds.

"The more common variant is more sensitive to bitter tastes, and people with that variant had a lower risk of being alcohol dependent," Goate says.

Goate hopes to replicate these findings in human taste tests, to
'"/>

Source:Washington University School of Medicine


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Genetic Variation Visualization - From EMBL
2. Variation in womens X chromosomes may explain differences among individuals, between sexes
3. Variation in HIVs ability to disable host defenses contributes to rapid evolution
4. Variations in detoxifying genes linked to Lou Gehrigs disease
5. Activation of thermoreceptors mediates raw garlics burning pungency
6. Fox Chase study shows that weakened T-cell receptor signals change T-cell lineage
7. Small worm yields big clue on muscle receptor action
8. Evolution of taste receptor may have shaped human sensitivity to toxic compounds
9. Blocking the nerve receptor EP1 in mouse models reduces brain damage caused by stroke
10. Bats use touch receptors on wings to fly, catch prey, study finds
11. HIV accessory protein disables host immunity via receptor-protein intermediary

Post Your Comments:
(Date:11/5/2009)...esearchers at Yale University have developed synth...une response to HIV and HIV-infected cells, as wel...lished online in the Journal of the American Chem...roaches for these diseases. , The molecules ca...(ARM-H) and "antibody-recruiting molecule targetin...
(Date:11/4/2009)...ridors in the cities of Long Beach and Riverside a...ventable childhood asthma, and the true impact of ...s likely been underestimated, according to researc...). , The study, which appears in an online edit...timated that nine percent of all childhood asthma ...
(Date:11/4/2009)... Oklahoma at Norman has received more than $10 mil... as part of the federal stimulus program, bringing...U researchers to $23 million. Thirty-three projec...rom archaeology to weather. , "The university ha... matching areasof scholarly excellence to federal ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):New synthetic molecules trigger immune response to HIV and prostate cancer 2USC study finds big air pollution impacts on local communities 2OU achieves $10 million in stimulus grants for 33 projects on the Norman campus 2OU achieves $10 million in stimulus grants for 33 projects on the Norman campus 3TransTech Services Partners Inc Shareholders Approve Plan of Liquidation 3B Company To Distribute Amounts in Trust 12971 1TransTech Services Partners Inc Shareholders Approve Plan of Liquidation 3B Company To Distribute Amounts in Trust 12971 2Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd Enters Into Asset Purchase Agreement with Forest Laboratories Inc to Settle Lexapro 28R 29 28escitalopram 51327 1Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd Enters Into Asset Purchase Agreement with Forest Laboratories Inc to Settle Lexapro 28R 29 28escitalopram 51327 2Telomeres resemble DNA fragile sites 9204 1Telomeres resemble DNA fragile sites 9204 2
...ting Initiative (GVFI), a nonprofit research initi...ved $11 million dollars from Google.org and The Sk...illion dollars from each organization, represents ..., an organization whose mission it is to prevent f...ed, brings together fieldwork in disease hotspots ...
...elp Meet Federal Meal Reimbursement ...TOWN, Pa., Oct. 20 ,BIO-key International, Inc. (O... biometric identification and wireless public safe...ng biometric finger scanning ID,for schools, annou...ometric,finger scanning identity solution that qui...
...predominant form of mercury found in the blood of ...be more damaging to seals than has previously been...pen access journal Environmental Health shows th... immune system. Similar results were also found fo...to occur as a result of man-made pollution and nat...
Other Biology News:Global Viral Forecasting Initiative receives $11M to implement pandemic early warning system 2identiMetrics & BIO-key(R) Provide Biometric Finger Scanning for School Food Service Nationwide 2identiMetrics & BIO-key(R) Provide Biometric Finger Scanning for School Food Service Nationwide 3identiMetrics & BIO-key(R) Provide Biometric Finger Scanning for School Food Service Nationwide 4
(Date:11/6/2009)... agenda for Arrowhead’s 2010 Personalized Me...ke place on February 22-24, 2010 in Philadelphia, ...e will highlight key issues in forming partnership...riences. , Minneapolis, M...head’s 2010 Personalized Medicine Partnersh...
(Date:11/5/2009)... 5 The endangered black-footed fer... This rare carnivore feeds on prairie dogs. The...ften entire population die-offs in towns occur. T...emented a ferret breeding program and has been rel...y native habitat. Unfortunately, plague can sweep...
(Date:11/5/2009)... Nov. 5 ThermoGenesis Co...tive products for processing and storing adult ste...ter of fiscal 2010. ,, For the quarter ended Se... $5.2 million, a 15 percent increase over revenues...The Company said the key contributors to the growt...
(Date:11/5/2009)... BioSpecifics Technologie...any developing first-in-class collagenase-based pr...the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. ,,...is year, the FDA,s Arthritis Advisory Committee un...oval of XIAFLEX(TM) for the treatment of Dupuytren...
Breaking Biology Technology:Leaders in Biopharma and Molecular Diagnostics to Discuss Key Issues and Opportunities in Forming Partnerships at 2010 Personalized Medicine Partnerships Conference 2Leaders in Biopharma and Molecular Diagnostics to Discuss Key Issues and Opportunities in Forming Partnerships at 2010 Personalized Medicine Partnerships Conference 3Colorado Companies Team Up With U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to Protect Black-Footed Ferret 2ThermoGenesis Reports 15 Percent Increase in First Quarter Revenues; Improved Bottom Line 2ThermoGenesis Reports 15 Percent Increase in First Quarter Revenues; Improved Bottom Line 3ThermoGenesis Reports 15 Percent Increase in First Quarter Revenues; Improved Bottom Line 4ThermoGenesis Reports 15 Percent Increase in First Quarter Revenues; Improved Bottom Line 5ThermoGenesis Reports 15 Percent Increase in First Quarter Revenues; Improved Bottom Line 6ThermoGenesis Reports 15 Percent Increase in First Quarter Revenues; Improved Bottom Line 7ThermoGenesis Reports 15 Percent Increase in First Quarter Revenues; Improved Bottom Line 8BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 2BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 3BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 4BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 5
...on , , MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. March 23 The ninth a...he premier educational event in the field of basic..., sponsored by the American Society of Transplant ...ansplantation (AST), will occur from May 30 - June... Boston, MA. , , Controversial topics and impor...
...ticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA ) announced today it ...to $50 million from Azimuth Opportunity Ltd. Durin...ment, Arena may sell newly issued registered share...at a pre-negotiated discount to the market price. ...timing and amount of any sales of its stock, subje...
..., Inc. (CTI) (NASDAQ and MTA: CTIC) today announce... for the year ended December 31, 2008. This filing...CellTherapeutics.com , or on the Securities and Ex..., As required under NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4350(b...uditor,s report included in the annual report on F...
Other Biology Technology:American Transplant Congress 2009 2Arena Pharmaceuticals Obtains Equity Financing Commitment of Up to $50 Million 2
...erials for 15-20 enhancements when used as directe...ement System is designed to amplify the desired si... tool for evaluating proteins with low expression....treat membrane prior to blocking the membrane; 1x ...
ReBlot™ Plus Kit from Upstate
EGTA, Molecular Biology Grade from Research Organics, Inc.
...ium esters have moderate chemiluminescence efficie...l understood. They have the added benefit that the...bute little to the background signal. This benefit...ivity immunoassay applications. These compounds ca...
Biology Products: