| Summary: | Drugs of abuse affect the capacity for attention and awareness and produce altered states of consciousness, implying that they act upon the molecular mechanisms, which support psycho-behavioral status and reactivity. Since attention is closely linked to learning and memory, it is not surprising that frequent use of some drugs results in persistent behavioral changes at times, which can result in withdrawal syndrome and observed symptoms, indicating that neuronal systems have
inherent modes of plasticity, supporting durable adaptation to repeated drug use. Mounting evidence indicates that epigenetic changes, specifically alterations in the patterns of DNA and histone methylation, are a central mechanism for learning and memory. Epigenetic changes can produce long-lasting alterations in gene expression and behavior that are linked to the initiating/precipitating event. Thus, an action on methylation-related metabolic pathways could help explain at least some
aspects of the acute and longer-term effects of drugs of abuse. This thesis project investigates the effect of morphine and other opiates on pathways of sulfur metabolism which support and control methylation activity.
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