Calcitonin gene-related peptide neurons mediate sleep-specific circadian output in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Imbalances in amount and timing of sleep are harmful to physical and mental health. Therefore, the study of the underlying mechanisms is of great biological importance. Proper timing and amount of sleep are regulated by both the circadian clock and homeostatic sleep drive. However, very little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the circadian clock regulates sleep. In this study, we describe a novel role for diuretic hormone 31 (DH31), the fly homolog of the vertebrate neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide, as a circadian wake-promoting signal that awakens the fly in anticipation of dawn.

Results

Analysis of loss-of-function and gain-of-function Drosophila mutants demonstrates that DH31 suppresses sleep late at night. DH31 is expre

SUBMITTER: Kunst M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4255360 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature