SLEEPLESS is a bifunctional regulator of excitability and cholinergic synaptic transmission.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although sleep is conserved throughout evolution, the molecular basis of its control is still largely a mystery. We previously showed that the quiver/sleepless (qvr/sss) gene encodes a membrane-tethered protein that is required for normal sleep in Drosophila. SLEEPLESS (SSS) protein functions, at least in part, by upregulating the levels and open probability of Shaker (Sh) potassium channels to suppress neuronal excitability and enable sleep. Consistent with this proposed mechanism, loss-of-function mutations in Sh phenocopy qvr/sss-null mutants. However, sleep is more genetically modifiable in Sh than in qvr/sss mutants, suggesting that SSS may regulate additional molecules to influence sleep.

Results

Here we show that SSS also antagonizes nicotinic acetylcholine

SUBMITTER: Wu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4059605 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature