SNP rs1801260 at the 3’UTR miRNA binding region of <i>Clock</i> gene is a risk factor of alcohol addiction: A case-control study in East Indian population

Drug addiction is a chronic disorder that alters mammalian circadian rhythms. The central player of circadian rhythmicity is the <i>Clock</i> gene. Its polymorphisms are associated with various behavioural and psychiatric disorders, although their involvement with drug addiction is still not known. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify any association of <i>Clock</i> gene polymorphisms with drug addiction. This study investigated the presence/absence of three SNPs (rs1801260, rs3749474, and rs10462028) located in the non-coding 3'UTR region of the <i>Clock</i> gene in the drug-addicted population of East India, residing in Kolkata. They are reportedly associated with different behavioural diseases in diverse populations. Among them, rs1801260 showed a significant association (odds ratio 2.666 and 95%CI 1.416 ~ 5.019) with the alcoholic population in our study. In-silico analysis exhibited allele-specific miRNA binding at this locus, implying a possible role in gene regulation. Hence, rs1801260 can be a genetic risk factor for alcohol addiction.