Alcoholism and Alternative Splicing of Candidate Genes

Toshikazu Sasabe and Shoichi Ishiura
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Toshikazu Sasabe: Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, 3-8-1, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan
Shoichi Ishiura: Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, 3-8-1, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan

IJERPH, 2010, vol. 7, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Gene expression studies have shown that expression patterns of several genes have changed during the development of alcoholism. Gene expression is regulated not only at the level of transcription but also through alternative splicing of pre-mRNA. In this review, we discuss some of the evidence suggesting that alternative splicing of candidate genes such as DRD2 (encoding dopamine D2 receptor) may form the basis of the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of alcoholism. These reports suggest that aberrant expression of splice variants affects alcohol sensitivities, and alcohol consumption also regulates alternative splicing. Thus, investigations of alternative splicing are essential for understanding the molecular events underlying the development of alcoholism.

Keywords: alcoholism; alternative splicing; dopamine; NMDA; GABA; voltage-gated calcium channel; neurexin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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