Sleep Counteracts Aging Phenotypes to Survive Starvation-Induced Developmental Arrest in C. elegans.

ABSTRACT: Sleep is ancient and fulfills higher brain functions as well as basic vital processes. Little is known about how sleep emerged in evolution and what essential functions it was selected for. Here, we investigated sleep in Caenorhabditis elegans across developmental stages and physiological conditions to find out when and how sleep in a simple animal becomes essential for survival. We found that sleep in worms occurs during most stages and physiological conditions and is typically induced by the sleep-active RIS neuron. Food quality and availability determine sleep amount. Extended starvation, which induces developmental arrest in larvae, presents a major sleep trigger. Conserved nutrient-sensing regulators of longevity and developmental arrest, AMP-activated kinase and FoxO, act in parallel

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6264389 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature