Intracellular Ca²⁺ dynamics in the ALA neuron reflect sleep pressure and regulate sleep in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: The mechanisms underlying sleep homeostasis are poorly understood. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits 2 types of sleep: lethargus, or developmentally timed, and stress-induced sleep. Lethargus is characterized by alternating cycles of sleep and motion bouts. Sleep bouts are homeostatically regulated, i.e., prolonged active bouts lead to prolonged sleep bouts. Here we reveal that the interneuron ALA is crucial for homeostatic regulation during lethargus. Intracellular Ca²⁺ in ALA gradually increased during active bouts and rapidly decayed upon transitions to sleep bouts. Longer active bouts were accompanied by higher intracellular Ca²⁺ peaks. Optogenetic activation of ALA during active bouts caused transitions to sleep bouts. Dysfunction of CEH-17, whi

SUBMITTER: Miyazaki S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9189131 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature