The sleep-feeding conflict: Understanding behavioral integration through genetic analysis in Drosophila.
One of the brain's most important functions is the control of homeostatically regulated behaviors. Dysregulation of the neural systems controlling sleep and feeding underlies many chronic illnesses. In a recent study published in Current Biology we showed that flies, like mammals, suppress sleep when starved and identified the genes Clock and cycle as regulators of sleep during starvation. Here we show that starvation specifically disrupts sleep initiation without affecting sleep consolidation. The identification of genes regulating sleep-feeding interactions will provide insight into how the brain integrates and controls the expression of complex behaviors.
McDonald
Daniel M
DM
Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Keene
Alex C
AC
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D056926:CLOCK Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D012890:Sleep / Q000235:genetics*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000235:genetics; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000235:genetics
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D056926:CLOCK Proteins