title: Sleep and cargo reorganization: A hypothesis.
abstract: Several molecules that act in the nervous system to regulate sleep and wake were first identified based on their transport effects in pigmented cells. I compiled a list of such molecules like melatonin, melanin-concentrating hormone, and pigment dispersing factor, etc. Molecules that induce pigment aggregation promote sleep whereas molecules that induce pigment dispersal promote wake. I call these Sleep and PIgment Regulating Factors SPIRFs. SPIRFs regulate organelle trafficking in both pigmentary models and neurons. I propose that cargo transport fulfills necessary sleep functions such as remodeling synapses and restoring homeostasis in the distribution of cell components. I put forth the hypothesis that sleep-promoting SPIRFs induce states of increased cargo movement towards the cell body, and propose that this function is a critical neuron maintenance task for which animals must sleep.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, United States. Electronic address: rmcclosk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCloskey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism*; D010858:Pigmentation; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone; D008550:Melatonin