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Drosophila highwire gene modulates acute ethanol sensitivity in the nervous system

  • Research Article
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Frontiers in Biology

Abstract

Animals exhibit behavioral differences in their sensitivity to ethanol, a trait that is at least in part due to genetic predispositions. This study has implicated a large neuronal protein involving Highwire, a Drosophila E3 ubiquitin ligase (Hiw, a homolog of Pam, a protein associated with Myc found in humans) in acute sensitivity to ethanol sedation. Flies lacking Hiw were hypersensitive to the sedating effect of ethanol whereas those overexpressing Hiw showed decreased sensitivity to ethanol. Furthermore, RNAi functional knockdown of Hiw in adult neurons or ellipsoid body neurons showed increased sensitivity to ethanol sedation. None of these manipulations of the hiw gene caused changes in the rate of ethanol absorption and/or metabolism. These results suggest a previously unknown role for this highly conserved gene in regulating the behavioral responses to an addictive drug.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK

    Awoyemi A. Awofala

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria

    Awoyemi A. Awofala

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  1. Awoyemi A. Awofala
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Correspondence to Awoyemi A. Awofala.

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Awofala, A.A. Drosophila highwire gene modulates acute ethanol sensitivity in the nervous system. Front. Biol. 6, 414–421 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-011-1144-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-011-1144-4

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