'Happyhour' gene offers new clues to treating alcoholism

Scientists at the University of California have identified a 'happyhour' gene that plays a key role in alcoholism, and two blockbuster cancer drugs already target the disease pathway.

Working with fruit flies, a team led by Ulrike Heberlein found that a mutant version of the gene blocks Epidermal Growth Factor, which accelerates cancer cell growth. The same process also hardens an individual's sedative response to alcohol. Essentially, they can keep drinking while others would fall asleep. 

To test their theory, the researchers gave fruit flies and mice with the gene Tarceva and found that they consumed less alcohol as they grew more sensitive to its effects. But they still retained an interest in drinking sugar water.

"This is a very powerful example of how simple model organisms--and the little fruit fly in particular--can be used to move quickly from an unknown gene to a potential therapy for drug addiction," said Heberlein. "It's not yet clear how it all fits together. But the fact that we've come, in an unbiased way, to molecules in the same pathway is telling us this is really, really important."

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