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Overview of the HTR1B Gene
The HRT1B gene is commonly associated with depression, anxiety and migraines, but also less common issues such as premature ejaculation and antisocial personality. The receptor also has a role in a person's susceptibility to alcohol and drugs, especially cocaine. It is one of many different receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that controls sleep, mood, behavior and sexual desire. Pictured above is Chromosome Six, and the red line is where the HTR1B is located. The precise location is 6q14.1. 
To the left is a picture of the structure of the gene receptor HTR1B. |
Pictured (Left): the Serotonin neurotransmitter, also known as 5-Hydroxytryptamine.
HTR1B in Mice and Humans
The gene has been studied in both mice and humans, and different results have been found for each species, however there are many similarities in the gene's effect in both mice and humans. Mice that lack the HTR1B gene tend to show more aggression than those with the gene. Mice without the gene also increased exploratory and decreased anxiety behavior. They also exhibited increased motor impulsivity, an easier learning process, heightened vulnerability to cocaine reinforcement, elevated alcohol consumption and disturbances in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep among other things. In humans, the HTR1B gene is often associated with antisocial alcoholism, but the connection is only reported, there have been no definitive tests. There is most likely a connection to schizophrenia and the HTR1B gene. The gene is expressed in a person's brain, since it is a serotonin receptor, which is in the brain. |
Serotonin
To the left is a diagram of the serotonin neurotransmitter and serotonin receptors. HTR1B is a serotonin receptor.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (basically a communicator between cells) that can be produced by the body and also can be found in external sources like food or drugs, not unlike dopamine. In fact, many anti-depression drugs are available that have serotonin in them, since it is the biggest factor in depression within a human's body. Serotonin itself plays a vital role in many different bodily functions, such as in the control of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, sexuality, appetite, metabolism and in even in the control of vomiting. It also has an important role in migraines. Serotonin controls how much a human's blood vessels dilate, and the cause of migraines is often believed to be too much blood vessel dilation.
To the left is a diagram of the serotonin neurotransmitter and serotonin receptors. HTR1B is a serotonin receptor.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (basically a communicator between cells) that can be produced by the body and also can be found in external sources like food or drugs, not unlike dopamine. In fact, many anti-depression drugs are available that have serotonin in them, since it is the biggest factor in depression within a human's body. Serotonin itself plays a vital role in many different bodily functions, such as in the control of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, sexuality, appetite, metabolism and in even in the control of vomiting. It also has an important role in migraines. Serotonin controls how much a human's blood vessels dilate, and the cause of migraines is often believed to be too much blood vessel dilation.
Depression
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Premature Ejaculation
The above image is a map different disorders and syndromes connected to HTR1B and premature ejaculation. Many of the disorders in the map above have some connection to the HTR1B gene, and almost all of them have a connection to Serotonin. According to a survey performed by the University of Chicago, approximately 30% of men between adolescence and age 59 have ejaculated prematurely in the past 12 months. Many scientists believe that premature ejaculation has evolved to become more prevalent among males, in order to have a higher chance of successfully passing on genes to the next generation, which means that the HTR1B gene has evolved to increase the likelihood of having premature ejaculation. |
Gene Expression Visualization
Primer Sequencing
Gene: HTR1B, Slice Length: 152, http://primer3.ut.ee/cgi-bin/primer3/primer3web_results.cgi
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The above image are the actual results from the primer lab in the first picture, and the ladder DNA marker in the second. Our two primers were in spaces four and five. Both of our primers appear to perform as predicted, since they both have bright bands lower down the ladder, as was predicted.
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Bibliography
Adamowicz, Michael W. “DEPRESSION: MAJOR DEPRESSION & UNIPOLAR VARIETIES Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: What We Can Learn From a Wartime Experience.” Pecan Valley Centers. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.pvmhmr.org/poc/view_doc.php?&id=29536&cn=5.
Dynamic Health Resources. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.dynamichealthresources.com/id2.html.
Gene Cards. “5-Hydroxytryptamine (Serotonin) Receptor 1B, G Protein-Coupled.” Gene Cards. Last modified October 23, 2013. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=HTR1B&search=anger.
LaRocque, Cao J. “Associations of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 1B gene (HTR1B) with alcohol, cocaine, and heroin abuse.” PubMed. Last modified January 13, 2013. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23335468.
Gene Cards: HTR1B. Accessed May 21, 2014
http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=HTR1B&search=attention%20deficit%20hyperactivity%20disorder#diseases
Medical College of Wisconsin. “Gene: Htr1b (5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 1B, G protein-coupled) Rattus norvegicus.” Rat Genome Database. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://rgd.mcw.edu/rgdweb/report/gene/main.html?id=2846.
Reimers, Elliot. “Feeling Sleepy after Eating.” Muscle Primer. Last modified November 27, 2013. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://muscle-primer.com/feeling-sleepy-after-eating/.
Sanders, Alan R., Quihe Cao, Jennifer Taylor, and Tamara E. Levin. Genetic Diversity of the Human Serotonin Receptor 1B (HTR1B) Gene. N.p.: Ideal Library, 2001.
U.S. Library of Medicine. “HTR1B 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 1B, G protein-coupled [ Homo sapiens (human) ].” National Center for Biotechnology Information. Last modified May 17, 2014. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3351.
U.S. National Library of Library. “Homo sapiens 5-hydroxytryptamine/serotonin receptor 1B gene, complete cds.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/29293108.
Adamowicz, Michael W. “DEPRESSION: MAJOR DEPRESSION & UNIPOLAR VARIETIES Why People Might Use Anxiety to Avoid Depression: What We Can Learn From a Wartime Experience.” Pecan Valley Centers. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.pvmhmr.org/poc/view_doc.php?&id=29536&cn=5.
Dynamic Health Resources. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.dynamichealthresources.com/id2.html.
Gene Cards. “5-Hydroxytryptamine (Serotonin) Receptor 1B, G Protein-Coupled.” Gene Cards. Last modified October 23, 2013. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=HTR1B&search=anger.
LaRocque, Cao J. “Associations of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 1B gene (HTR1B) with alcohol, cocaine, and heroin abuse.” PubMed. Last modified January 13, 2013. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23335468.
Gene Cards: HTR1B. Accessed May 21, 2014
http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=HTR1B&search=attention%20deficit%20hyperactivity%20disorder#diseases
Medical College of Wisconsin. “Gene: Htr1b (5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 1B, G protein-coupled) Rattus norvegicus.” Rat Genome Database. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://rgd.mcw.edu/rgdweb/report/gene/main.html?id=2846.
Reimers, Elliot. “Feeling Sleepy after Eating.” Muscle Primer. Last modified November 27, 2013. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://muscle-primer.com/feeling-sleepy-after-eating/.
Sanders, Alan R., Quihe Cao, Jennifer Taylor, and Tamara E. Levin. Genetic Diversity of the Human Serotonin Receptor 1B (HTR1B) Gene. N.p.: Ideal Library, 2001.
U.S. Library of Medicine. “HTR1B 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 1B, G protein-coupled [ Homo sapiens (human) ].” National Center for Biotechnology Information. Last modified May 17, 2014. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3351.
U.S. National Library of Library. “Homo sapiens 5-hydroxytryptamine/serotonin receptor 1B gene, complete cds.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. Accessed May 20, 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/29293108.
