A large meta-analysis of alcohol consumption (g/day/kg body weight) in 12 European population-based samples detected genome-wide significant evidence (p = 4 × 10-8) of association with SNPs in the autism susceptibility candidate 2 gene (AUTS2)76. The association was supported by evidence that AUTS2 expression in human brain tissue was related to genotype, and that mouse lines selected for alcohol preference differed in its expression. Furthermore, studies in Drosophila found that downregulation of an AUTS2 homolog resulted in reduced alcohol sensitivity76. Subsequent analyses suggest that the expression of AUTS2 may be downregulated in heroin dependent individuals as compared with controls77. Its molecular function is not known.
