# Small G proteins and alcohol use disorder

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2022 · $539,528

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This proposal is aimed at testing the contribution of the Rho GTPases Rac1 and RhoB in the dorsal striatum to
the mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorder (AUD). Rac1 and RhoB play an important role in cytoskeleton
rearrangement as well as in the remodeling of dendrites and spines. We recently discovered that excessive
alcohol intake and withdrawal activate Rac1 and RhoB in the mouse dorsomedial striatum (DMS), and
dorsolateral striatum (DLS), respectively. Based on published and preliminary data, we will test the hypothesis
that alcohol activates Rac1 and RhoB, in DMS and DLS neurons, respectively, leading to cellular
adaptations which in turn drive the development and/or maintenance of alcohol drinking behaviors
including goal directed and habitual alcohol seeking.
This hypothesis will be explored by the following aims. Aim 1 will determine the mechanism by which heavy
alcohol use actives Rac1 and RhoB in the DMS and DLS. We will also determine whether the small G proteins
are activated in subpopulation of striatal neurons. Aim 2 will determine the cellular consequences of Rac1 and
RhoB activation in the DMS and DLS, respectively. Specifically, will examine the hypothesis that Rac1 activation
by alcohol in the DMS promotes F-Actin formation and dendritic tree branching as well as spine maturation. We
will also test the hypothesis that alcohol-dependent RhoB activation in the DLS leads to opposite outcomes e.g.
dendritic tree shrinkage and increase in the number of immature spines. Aim 3 will address the behavioral
consequences of Rac1 and RhoB activation in the DMS and DLS, and determine whether the small G proteins
contribute to the development and/or maintenance of alcohol drinking behaviors. Finally, as the DMS and DLS
are central regions in circuitries that drive goal directed and habitual behaviors, respectively, we will determine
whether Rac1 and RhoB drive goal directed and habitual alcohol seeking. To achieve these goals, we plan to
combine state of the art molecular/genetic tools with mouse alcohol drinking paradigms. If successful, data
generated from the studies will: a. shed a light on the contribution of an important group of signaling molecules
to AUD; b. will enable us to gain insights on how alcohol exposure produces structural modifications in the dorsal
striatum; c. will potentially identify the molecular mechanisms underlying goal-directed and/or habitual alcohol
seeking; d. as small molecules targeting Rho GTPases are being developed for other indications, the application
has a clear translational trajectory.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10456726
- **Project number:** 5R01AA027682-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** DORIT RON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $539,528
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10456726

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10456726, Small G proteins and alcohol use disorder (5R01AA027682-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10456726. Licensed CC0.

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