Scientists have identified a new factor affecting propensity to become addicted to nicotine, according to work performed by investigators at the UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW CTRI), Washington University, the University of Minnesota, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York.

Researchers found that particular variants of the gene encoding flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO3), an enzyme that metabolizes nicotine in the brain, are directly related to plasma levels of nicotine-N-oxide and smoking behaviors such as nicotine dependence, suggesting that nicotine N-oxidation could be a novel target to enhance smoking cessation.

Study volunteers who smoke and who have genetic variants resulting in increased production of FMO3, which causes nicotine to be broken down more quickly in the brain, were more likely to say they smoke first thing in the morning — a key indicator of nicotine dependence.

“Even if they have a home smoking ban, they will go out into their porch or to the garage to have their cigarette right away, as soon as they get up,” said Timothy Baker, PhD, professor emeritus, General Internal Medicine and director of research, UW CTRI.

Resources:

• "UW-Madison study links nicotine addiction to genetic variation in brain," Wisconsin State Journal, September 4, 2017
• Teitelbaum AM, Murphy SE, Akk G, Baker TB, Germann A, von Weymarn LB, Bierut LJ, Goate A, Kharasch ED, Bloom AJ. 2017. Nicotine dependence is associated with functional variation in FMO3, an enzyme that metabolizes nicotine in the brain. Pharmacogenomics J.[Epub ahead of print]