Cloning of the mouse GABA-benzodiazepine receptor. alpha. 1 subunit in a study of alcohol neurosensitivity

Journal Article · Thu Feb 09 00:00:00 EST 1989 · FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (USA)

OSTI ID:6831876

Keir, W J; Deitrich, R A; Sikela, J M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Colorado, Denver (USA)

The inhibitory action of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is mediated by its binding to the benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor and opening of a chloride channel. This receptor contains a variety of binding sites for several behavorially active drugs. Recent studies with SS and LS mice which were selected for differential neurosensitivity to ethanol, suggest that the GABAergic system plays a role in this differential sensitivity. Thus genes controlling the GABAergic system may also influence the acute hypnotic actions of ethanol. As a fist step towards verifying this hypothesis we have cloned and partially sequenced the mouse GABA-BDZ {alpha}1 subunit cDNA using a 40 bp oligonucleotide derived from the N terminus of a published bovine {alpha} subunit cDNA. A positive clone from a mouse brain cDNA library was identified and contains an insert of approximately 2.5 Kb. Partial sequence analysis indicates that this clone corresponds to the mouse homolog of the {alpha}1 subunit of the GABA-BDZ receptor. This clone is being used as a probe to identify restriction fragment length polymorphisms in several mouse genotypes which differ in their neurosensitivity to ethanol in an attempt to identify molecular genetic changes in the GABA-BDZ receptor that are related to differential ethanol neurosensitivity.

• OSTI ID: 6831876
• Journal Information: FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (USA), Vol. 3:3; ISSN 0892-6638
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ETHANOL
TOXICITY
MICE
SENSITIVITY
AMINOBUTYRIC ACID
BRAIN
DNA SEQUENCING
DNA-CLONING
GENE REGULATION
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
ALCOHOLS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CLONING
DNA HYBRIDIZATION
DRUGS
HYBRIDIZATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NEUROREGULATORS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RODENTS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550200 - Biochemistry