Functional Variants in TAS2R38 and TAS2R16 Influence Alcohol Consumption in High-Risk Families of African-American OriginAlcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 31 (2), 209–215.
A novel family of G protein-coupled receptors, TAS2Rs, has recently been characterized and linked to sensitivity to bitter taste compounds.
We have previously reported that a missense mutation in the TAS2R16 gene reduces the sensitivity of the receptor to bitter-taste stimuli and that it is associated with risk for alcohol dependence.
We used family-based association methods to test for association between TAS2R38 haplotypes and alcohol dependence as well as a measure of alcohol consumption (Maxdrinks) and age of onset of drinking behaviors in a sample of families densely affected with alcoholism. We have also extended our analysis of TAS2R16 to include the Maxdrinks phenotype.
Functional variants in both TAS2R16 and TAS2R38 correlate with alcohol consumption in African-American families.
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