rdgB knockdown in neurons reduced nocturnal sleep in Drosophila melanogaster

Recent studies revealed behaviorally defined sleep is conserved across broad species from insect to human. For evolutional analysis, it is critical to determine how homologous genes regulate the homol-ogous function among species. Drosophila melanogaster shares numerous sleep related genes with mammals including Sik3, salt-inducible kinase 3, whose mutation caused long sleep both in mouse and fruit fly. The Drosophila rdgB (retinal degeneration B) encodes a membrane-associated phosphatidyli-nositol transfer protein and its mutation caused light-induced degeneration of photoreceptor cells. rdgB mutation also impaired phototransduction and olfactory behavior, indicating rdgB is involved in the normal neural transmission. Mammalian rdgB homologue, Pitpnm2 (phosphatidylinositol transfer pro-tein membrane-associated 2) was discovered as one of SNIPPs (sleep-need index phosphoproteins), suggesting its role in sleep. Here, we show that rdgB is involved in sleep regulation in Drosophila. Pan -neuronal and mushroom body (MB) specific rdgB knockdown decreased nocturnal sleep. MB neurons play a dominant role, since the rescue of rdgB expression only in MB neurons in pan-neuronal knock-down reversed the sleep reducing effect of rdgB knockdown. These results revealed the sleep-related function of rdgB in Drosophila which may be conserved across species.(c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Recent studies have shown that behaviorally defined sleep is conserved from insects to humans. Understanding how homologous genes regulate sleep across species is crucial for evolutionary analysis. The rdgB gene, found in both fruit flies and mammals, plays a role in sleep regulation, suggesting its conservation across species.