Signalling flies to sleep
A particular signalling pathway is shown to be important in regulation and maintenance of sleep. Fruit fly Drosophila may be a good model in which to identify the molecular pathways involved in sleep regulation.
Fruit flies (and other insects) undergo a process that is biologically similar to sleep in mammals, including immobility and additional ‘catch-up’ sleep following sleep deprivation. Ralph Greenspan and colleagues demonstrate that the activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, which is known to be involved in natural 24 hour rhythms, led to an increase in sleep. Blocking activity in this signalling pathway led to a decrease in sleep and difficulty in catching up on sleep after deprivation. This regulation occurred in a region of the fly brain that is developmentally and functionally similar to the hypothalamus in mammals – the part of our brain that controls sleep.
Using this type of experimental approach may make it easier and faster for scientists to identify additional molecules required for the induction and/or maintenance of sleep. Drug companies might then be able to use this information to design better sleep aids.

Author contact:

Ralph Greenspan (The Neurosciences Institute, San Diego, CA, USA)
Tel: +1 858 626 2075; E-mail: greenspan@nsi.edu