Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 99, Issue 12, Pages 8394-8399Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.082235799
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Funding
- NCRR NIH HHS [RR 00833, M01 RR000833] Funding Source: Medline
- NIDA NIH HHS [DA 13173, R01 DA013173-02, R01 DA015197-01, DA 15197, R01 DA015197] Funding Source: Medline
- NIDDK NIH HHS [R01 DK053505, DK 53505-02] Funding Source: Medline
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Problem drug use and dependence are neurobehavioral disorders of complex origin. Although environmental factors contribute to drug abuse and addiction, genetic factors also play a significant role estimated at 40-60% of the total risk. Nonetheless, the precise identities of human genes that confer vulnerability to problem drug use remain mostly unknown. Here, we describe a natural single nucleotide polymorphism in the human gene that encodes the principal endocannabinoid-inactivating enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), that in homozygous form is strongly associated with both street drug use and problem drug/alcohol use. This single nucleotide polymorphism results in a missense mutation (38SC-->A) that converts a conserved proline residue to threonine (Prc129-->Thr), producing a FAAH variant that displays normal catalytic properties but an enhanced sensitivity to proteolytic degradation. Collectively, these results suggest that genetic mutations in FAAH may constitute important risk factors for problem drug use and support a potential link between functional abnormalities in the endogenous cannabinoid system and drug abuse and dependence.
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