Go signaling in mushroom bodies regulates sleep in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT:

Study objectives

Sleep is a fundamental physiological process and its biological mechanisms are poorly understood. In Drosophila melanogaster, heterotrimeric Go protein is abundantly expressed in the brain. However, its post-developmental function has not been extensively explored.

Design

Locomotor activity was measured using the Drosophila Activity Monitoring System under a 12:12 LD cycle. Sleep was defined as periods of 5 min with no recorded activity.

Results

Pan-neuronal elevation of Go signaling induced quiescence accompanied by an increased arousal threshold in flies. By screening region-specific GAL4 lines, we mapped the sleep-regulatory function of Go signaling to mushroom bodies (MBs), a central brain region which modulates memory, decision making, and sleep

SUBMITTER: Guo F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3041703 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature