An emotion enhancer gene
The power of grief and joy is determined by the gene
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Australian scientists have discovered a genetic variation that affects the strength of experiences (Gene magnifies the psychological impact of life events, for better and for worse). Owners of one of the SERT gene varieties were more prone to depression if life was cracking, but they were happier if everything went well.
The study involved 333 residents of the Australian state of Victoria of North and West European origin.
The SERT protein is involved in the metabolism of the neurotransmitter serotonin. When one neuron transmits a signal to the next neuron, it throws a neurotransmitter substance into the space between them. The neurotransmitter triggers an electrical pulse in the second neuron, and then must be disposed of. As a rule, from the space between the neurons, it gets back to the first neuron, and the neuron is ready to transmit the signal again. If the neurotransmitter remains in the space between the neurons, then the pulse in the second neuron occurs again and again, the signal is amplified. The SERT protein is precisely engaged in returning serotonin from the space between neurons to the neuron that transmitted the signal.
The SERT gene has two common variants (polymorphisms) of the regulatory region: a longer and a shorter one. The longer variant corresponds to a more active synthesis of matrix RNA and, accordingly, a larger amount of the corresponding protein in the cells. This means that, all other things being equal, a longer version of the regulatory region of the gene corresponds to a faster capture of serotonin back into the neuron and a weaker signal. The study compared two groups of people: those who had a short version of the gene in both chromosomes, and all the others.
Until now, scientists have been trying to find a link between short gene variants and depression or, for example, addiction. The results were always controversial. And so, in a new study, the authors decided to approach the problem not only from a negative, but also from a positive side. The authors studied the relationship between physical and sexual violence that a person was subjected to in childhood and his satisfaction with life in adulthood. It turned out (some earlier studies also pointed to this) that in people with short SERT genes, violence in childhood more often led to depression in adulthood than in the control group, but those whose childhood was calm were happier than those with long variants.
The result looks logical if you think about the fact that the short version (in a homozygous state) simply amplifies all the signals: joy from success, frustration from failure.
Article by Nguyen et al. Serotonin transporter polymorphism (5HTTLPR), severe childhood abuse and depressive symptom trajectories in adulthood is published in open access in the British Journal of Psychiatry Open – VM.
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25.09.2015