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Associations Among GABRG1, Level of Response to Alcohol, and Drinking Behaviors
Author(s) -
Ray Lara A.,
Hutchison Kent E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.00968.x
Subject(s) - single nucleotide polymorphism , snp , alcohol , alcohol dependence , phenotype , genetics , subclinical infection , addiction , psychology , alcohol use disorder , biology , gene , clinical psychology , medicine , genotype , psychiatry , biochemistry
Background: Recent studies of the genetics of alcoholism have focused on a cluster of genes encoding for γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA A ) receptor subunits, which is thought to play a role in the expression of addiction phenotypes. This study examined allelic associations between 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the GABRG1 gene (rs1391166 and rs1497571) and alcohol phenotypes, namely level of response to alcohol, alcohol use patterns, and alcohol‐related problems. Method: Participants were non‐treatment‐seeking seeking hazardous drinkers ( n = 124) who provided DNA samples, participated in a face‐to‐face interview for level of response to alcohol, and completed a series of drinking and individual differences measures. Results: Analyses revealed that a SNP of the GABRG1 gene (rs1497571) was associated with level of response to alcohol and drinking patterns in this subclinical sample. Follow‐up mediational analyses were also conducted to examine putative mechanisms underlying these associations. Discussion: These findings replicate and extend recent research suggesting that genetic variation at the GABRG1 locus may underlie the expression of alcohol phenotypes, including level of response to alcohol.