A potassium channel β-subunit couples mitochondrial electron transport to sleep.

ABSTRACT: The essential but enigmatic functions of sleep^1,2 must be reflected in molecular changes sensed by the brain's sleep-control systems. In the fruitfly Drosophila, about two dozen sleep-inducing neurons³ with projections to the dorsal fan-shaped body (dFB) adjust their electrical output to sleep need⁴, via the antagonistic regulation of two potassium conductances: the leak channel Sandman imposes silence during waking, whereas increased A-type currents through Shaker support tonic firing during sleep⁵. Here we show that oxidative byproducts of mitochondrial electron transport^6,7 regulate the activity of dFB neurons through a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) cofactor bound to the oxidoreductase domain^8,9 of S

SUBMITTER: Kempf A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6522370 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature