Association of seven polymorphisms of the D2 dopamine receptor gene with brain receptor-binding characteristics

Association of alleles at the Taq1 A, Taq1 B, intron 6, Taq1 D, exon 7, exon 8, and promoter-141C sites of the D2 dopamine receptor gene with D2 dopamine receptor binding characteristics in the caudate nucleus of Caucasian alcoholic and nonalcoholic subjects was determined. For the Taq1 D, exon 7, exon 8, and promoter- 141C sites there were no significant allelic differences in Bmax (number of binding sites) or Kd (binding affinity) of the D2 dopamine receptors. However, subjects having the minor alleles at the Taq1 A, Taq1 B, and intron 6 sites had significantly lower Bmax than subjects not having them. None of these three polymorphisms had any significant effect on Kd. Highly significant linkage disequilibria were observed among the Taq1 A, Taq1 B, and intron 6 polymorphic sites, but linkage disequilibria between these three sites and each of the Taq1 D, exon 7, exon 8, and promoter-141C sites were of lesser or of no significance. Taken together, these findings suggest that the Taq1 A, Taq1 B, and intron 6 polymorphisms, but not the Taq1 D, exon 7, exon 8, and promoter-141C polymorphisms, are in linkage disequilibrium with a functional allelic variant that affects D2 dopamine receptor expression.