Alcohol abuse is an prominent issue in Australia – one only needs to observe the debate incited by recent events like the removal of the “alcopop” tax or the crucification of Matthew Johns. For better or for worse alcohol is a part of Australian culture and is here to stay. A newly-identified gene, humourously called 'happyhour' may provide a new method of treating alcohol addiction.
Populations of Drosophilia were exposed to alcohol and it was found that two genotypes were much less susceptible to the effects of alcohol. Both carried a mutation in the happyhour gene. When the functionality of this gene was restored, alcohol affected the flies normally.
Whilst the mechanism for this effect is not yet known, it has been shown that the gene inhibits a pathway involved in cell division and associated with cancer. Two anti-cancer drugs which act on this pathway recently received approval from the FDA. Researchers tested these drugs on flies exposed to alcohol and found that the drugs made the flies more likely to be knocked out by alcohol.
A drug which reduces the number of drinks needed to have an effect on people could potentially have a protective effect – chronic users don't have to drink excessively dangerous amounts of alcohol to “get a fix”.
Journal reference: Cell (DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.03.020)
Posted by 42005377
