Zinc Finger Protein 699 (ZNF699)

'Hangover' (Hang),is required for normal development of ethanol tolerance. Flies null for the Hang gene are also defective in responses to environmental stressors such as heat and the free radical-generating agent paraquat. ethanol tolerance in Drosophila relies on 2 distinct molecular pathways: a cellular stress pathway defined by Hang, and a parallel pathway requiring octopamine, the Drosophila analog of mammalian noradrenaline. The Hang gene encodes a large nuclear zinc finger protein, suggesting a role in nucleic acid binding. The Hang gene is expressed ubiquitously in the Drosophila nervous system, and Hang protein is localized to the nuclei of neurons. the role of stress, at both the cellular and systemic levels, in contributing to drug- and addiction-related behaviors in mammals may be conserved across evolution.