This report includes general characterization of the fly response to alcohol using Drosophila genes within the insulin signaling pathway; links to additional reports for specific genes are provided.
Genetic manipulations in Drosophila that impair the function of insulin-producing cells result in increased sensitivity to ethanol sedation.
Animals heterozygous for loss-of-function mutations in InR (insulin-like receptor; see FBhh0000693) or chico (an insulin receptor substrate) exhibit increased sensitivity to ethanol sedation.
Pan-neuronal expression of constitutively active mutations of InR or S6k (ribosomal S6 kinase) result in reduced sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation. An acute, sedating dose of ethanol causes loss of S6k activity.
Animals homozygous for loss-of-function mutations of Arf51F (a small GTPase that regulates membrane trafficking) are extremely sensitive to ethanol sedation (see FBhh0000690). It is postulated that the Arf51F protein is a downstream mediator of InR signaling in this response, and that S6k acts downstream of Arf51F.
[updated Jan. 2018 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]
Alcoholism can be defined as persistence of excessive drinking over a long period of time despite adverse health effects and disruption of social relations (Morozova et al., 2014; pubmed:24395673).
The 2013 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) combined the two former categorizations of abnormal alcohol use (alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence) into one diagnosis: alcohol use disorder. The severity of an individual's AUD is broken into classifications: mild, moderate, or severe. "Alcoholism" is a non-medical term often used to describe a severe form of alcohol use disorder. (https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/recovery-blog/alcoholism-alcohol-use-disorder-whats-difference/)
Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk of different types of cancer, higher cardiovascular disease mortality, birth defects, liver diseases, and neuropsychiatric disorders (Morozova et al., 2014; pubmed:24395673).
Alcoholism is a multifactorial, genetically influenced disorder. [from MIM:103780; 2017.12.19]