Taok2 controls behavioral response to ethanol in mice. (31st August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kapfhamer, D.; Taylor, S.; Zou, M. E.; Lim, J. P.; Kharazia, V.; Heberlein, U.
• Is Part Of: Genes, brain, and behavior. Volume 12:Number 1(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 87
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2012-08-31
• Subjects: Conditioned place preference -- ethanol consumption -- ethanol sensitivity -- MAP kinase -- TAOK2; Behavior genetics -- Periodicals; Neurogenetics -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183X.2012.00834.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1601-1848

Abstract

Abstract : Nervous system‐specific loss of Taok2 in mice alters ethanol‐induced sedation and consumption. Abstract : Despite recent advances in the understanding of ethanol's biological action, many of the molecular targets of ethanol and mechanisms behind ethanol's effect on behavior remain poorly understood. In an effort to identify novel genes, the products of which regulate behavioral responses to ethanol, we recently identified a mutation in the dtao gene that confers resistance to the locomotor stimulating effect of ethanol in Drosophila . dtao encodes a member of the Ste20 family of serine/threonine kinases implicated in MAP kinase signaling pathways. In this study, we report that conditional ablation of the mouse dtao homolog, Taok2, constitutively and specifically in the nervous system, results in strain‐specific and overlapping alterations in ethanol‐dependent behaviors. These data suggest a functional conservation of dtao and Taok2 in mediating ethanol's biological action and identify Taok2 as a putative candidate gene for ethanol use disorders in humans.