Activation of EGFR and ERK by rhomboid signaling regulates the consolidation and maintenance of sleep in Drosophila.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in the mammalian hypothalamus is important in the circadian regulation of activity. We have examined the role of this pathway in the regulation of sleep in Drosophila melanogaster. Our results demonstrate that rhomboid (Rho)- and Star-mediated activation of EGFR and ERK signaling increases sleep in a dose-dependent manner, and that blockade of rhomboid (rho) expression in the nervous system decreases sleep. The requirement of rho for sleep localized to the pars intercerebralis, a part of the fly brain that is developmentally and functionally analogous to the hypothalamus in vertebrates. These results suggest that sleep and its regulation by EGFR signaling may be ancestral to insects and mammals.
Foltenyi
Krisztina
K
Department of Biology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Greenspan
Ralph J
RJ
Newport
John W
JW
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C081481:Rho protein, Drosophila; C415248:S protein, Drosophila; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases