Role of POMC gene expression changes for individual differences in analgesia and susceptibility to dependence

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In the previous study, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene was identified to be associated with individual differences in opioid analgesia and susceptibility to alcohol dependence. The POMC SNP dose not form linkage disequilibrium block with other polymorphisms, suggesting that the SNP would directly affect on individual differences in analgesia and susceptibility to dependence. The expression vector was constructed with 5' flanking region of the POMC gene including the SNP. The human POMC gene consists of three exons, but effective polymorphisms for allelic imbalance experience (AIE) were identified in the last exon. The expression analyses are now on going, and molecular mechanisms underlying individual differences in opioid sensitivity or susceptibility to dependence would be elucidated by these analyses.