Logo image
Hnrnph1 Is A Quantitative Trait Gene for Methamphetamine Sensitivity
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Hnrnph1 Is A Quantitative Trait Gene for Methamphetamine Sensitivity

Neema Yazdani, Clarissa C Parker, Ying Shen, Eric R Reed, Michael A Guido, Loren A Kole, Stacey L Kirkpatrick, Jackie E Lim, Greta Sokoloff, Riyan Cheng, …
PLoS genetics, Vol.11(12), pp.e1005713-e1005713
12/2015
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005713
PMCID: PMC4675533
PMID: 26658939
url
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1005713View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Psychostimulant addiction is a heritable substance use disorder; however its genetic basis is almost entirely unknown. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in mice offers a complementary approach to human genome-wide association studies and can facilitate environment control, statistical power, novel gene discovery, and neurobiological mechanisms. We used interval-specific congenic mouse lines carrying various segments of chromosome 11 from the DBA/2J strain on an isogenic C57BL/6J background to positionally clone a 206 kb QTL (50,185,512-50,391,845 bp) that was causally associated with a reduction in the locomotor stimulant response to methamphetamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.; DBA/2J < C57BL/6J)-a non-contingent, drug-induced behavior that is associated with stimulation of the dopaminergic reward circuitry. This chromosomal region contained only two protein coding genes-heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein, H1 (Hnrnph1) and RUN and FYVE domain-containing 1 (Rufy1). Transcriptome analysis via mRNA sequencing in the striatum implicated a neurobiological mechanism involving a reduction in mesolimbic innervation and striatal neurotransmission. For instance, Nr4a2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 2), a transcription factor crucial for midbrain dopaminergic neuron development, exhibited a 2.1-fold decrease in expression (DBA/2J < C57BL/6J; p 4.2 x 10-15). Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs)-mediated introduction of frameshift deletions in the first coding exon of Hnrnph1, but not Rufy1, recapitulated the reduced methamphetamine behavioral response, thus identifying Hnrnph1 as a quantitative trait gene for methamphetamine sensitivity. These results define a novel contribution of Hnrnph1 to neurobehavioral dysfunction associated with dopaminergic neurotransmission. These findings could have implications for understanding the genetic basis of methamphetamine addiction in humans and the development of novel therapeutics for prevention and treatment of substance abuse and possibly other psychiatric disorders.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - genetics Animals Behavior, Animal - drug effects Central Nervous System Stimulants - administration & dosage Chromosome Mapping Dopaminergic Neurons - drug effects Dopaminergic Neurons - metabolism Genome-Wide Association Study Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins - genetics Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins - metabolism Humans Male Methamphetamine - administration & dosage Mice Motor Activity - drug effects Motor Activity - genetics Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2 - genetics Quantitative Trait Loci - genetics RNA, Messenger - genetics Synaptic Transmission - drug effects Synaptic Transmission - genetics

Details

Metrics

Logo image