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A novel pathway for sensory-mediated arousal involves splicing of an intron in
the period clock gene
#MMPMID25325457
Cao W
; Edery I
Sleep
2015[Jan]; 38
(1
): 41-51
PMID25325457
show ga
STUDY OBJECTIVES: D. melanogaster is an excellent animal model to study how the
circadian (?24-h) timing system and sleep regulate daily wake-sleep cycles.
Splicing of a temperature-sensitive 3'-terminal intron (termed dmpi8) from the
circadian clock gene period (per) regulates the distribution of daily activity in
Drosophila. The role of dmpi8 splicing on daily behavior was further evaluated by
analyzing sleep. DESIGN: Transgenic flies of the same genetic background but
expressing either a wild-type recombinant per gene or one where the efficiency of
dmpi8 splicing was increased were exposed to different temperatures in daily
light-dark cycles and sleep parameters measured. In addition, transgenic flies
were briefly exposed to a variety of sensory-mediated stimuli to measure arousal
responses. RESULTS: Surprisingly, we show that the effect of dmpi8 splicing on
daytime activity levels does not involve a circadian role for per but is linked
to adjustments in sensory-dependent arousal and sleep behavior. Genetically
altered flies with high dmpi8 splicing efficiency remain aroused longer following
short treatments with light and non-photic cues such as mechanical stimulation.
CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the thermal regulation of dmpi8 splicing acts as a
temperature-calibrated rheostat in a novel arousal mechanism, so that on warm
days the inefficient splicing of the dmpi8 intron triggers an increase in
quiescence by decreasing sensory-mediated arousal, thus ensuring flies minimize
being active during the hot midday sun despite the presence of light in the
environment, which is usually a strong arousal cue for diurnal animals.
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