# Influence of early developmental ethanol exposure on genes, the mTOR signaling pathway and behavior

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA · 2022 · $249,000

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
Mental illness stems from intricate interactions between genes and the environment. Prenatal alcohol exposure
is most common environmental input that leads to disorders of the brain and behavior. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder (FASD) collectively describes all the defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. In the United States
it is estimated that 1 in 100 children have FASD. Impaired social behavior is a frequent and debilitating symptom
of FASD. The risk of FASD is modified by an individual's genetics, with some deficits being linked to impairments
of neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine. However, the exact mechanisms for FASD social deficits are
unknown.
My host lab has shown that elevating mTORC1 signaling rescues ethanol-induced facial defects in zebrafish.
Using zebrafish, I have shown that a two-hour developmental exposure to 1% ethanol (resulting in tissue levels
of approximately 27 mM ethanol), which is comparable to established rodent FASD exposure leads to permanent
social deficits and disrupted dopamine functioning. Thus, I joined my host lab to characterize the genetic
predisposition to ethanol-induced social behavior deficits. I will test the hypothesis that ethanol attenuates the
overall level of mechanistic target-of-rapamycin (mTOR) pathway signaling which regulates development of the
dopaminergic system and, subsequently social behavior.
Collectively my results will provide mechanistic insight into one of the most devastating human disorders which,
has a life-long impact on the brain and behavior.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10486139
- **Project number:** 5R00AA027567-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Yohaan M. Fernandes
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $249,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-10 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10486139

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10486139, Influence of early developmental ethanol exposure on genes, the mTOR signaling pathway and behavior (5R00AA027567-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10486139. Licensed CC0.

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