Scientists Identify Molecular Step that Causes Intoxication

from University of California / San Francisco Gotta love the name of the clinic that did the work... bq. Scientists at UCSF's Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center have identified a single brain protein that can account for most of the intoxicating effects of alcohol. The finding pinpoints perhaps the best target yet for a drug to block alcohol's effect and potentially treat alcoholism, the scientists say. bq. The mechanisms by which alcohol acts on the brain are thought to be similar throughout the animal kingdom, since species from worms and fruit flies to mice and humans all become intoxicated at similar alcohol concentrations. But although studies have identified a number of genes that can partially influence how alcohol affects behavior, this is the first finding that a single gene and the brain protein it codes for --known as an ion channel -- are responsible for the intoxicating effects of alcohol in a living organism, according to the researchers. They are talking about finding a way to block this. Hell - lets find the way to trigger it and put it in ice cream, the water supply, even beer... Heh...