ACETALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE (AHD-2)-ASSOCIATED DNA POLYMORPHISMS IN MOUSE STRAINS WITH VARIABLE ETHANOL PREFERENCES

The genotype-dependent response of mice to ethanol has been well documented. Cytosolic acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2) increases in some strains while decreasing in others with ethanol treatment. Further work suggests that the mRNA for ALDH-2 (Ahd-2 mRNA) levels are altered following ethanol feeding in a strain-dependent fashion. This report identifies differences in Ahd-2 at the genomic DNA level among different strains of mice. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) associated with the Ahd-2 locus were found for the restriction enzymes EcoRI, HindIII, PstI and Rsa I. The mouse strains included in this study could be categorized into two groups based on their overall Ahd-2 associated DNA banding patterns. Strains C57BL/6J, C57BL/6J*, C57BL/10J and BALB/c form group 1 while strains C3H/HeJ, C3H/HeSnJ, 129/ReJ, Cs(b), SW and DBA/2J form group 2. With the exception of BALB/c, group 1 represents alcohol preferring strains while group 2 are alcohol avoiding strains. Additional work will be required to determine the physiological significance (if any) of these RFLPs and their possible relationship to ethanol preference and avoidance.