Quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of the molecular substrates of sleep need
- Journal:
- Nature
- Published:
- DOI:
- 10.1038/s41586-018-0218-8
- Affiliations:
- 14
- Authors:
- 25
Research Highlight
Waking up to sleep secrets
© Hoxton/Tom Merton/Getty
The biochemistry behind sleepiness has been found in somnolent rodents.
A good night’s sleep after a long day can feel like hitting the refresh button, but how the brain monitors the need for a nap is not well understood. A team led by University of Tsukuba researchers compared the chemical activity in the brains of well-rested mice, sleep-deprived mice and mice with a genetic mutation — aptly named Sleepy — that causes them to always seek extra sleep. The team identified 80 proteins that accumulated more phosphates by a process called phosphorylation, which can alter protein function, in than in the well-rested mice. The process was reversed after the tired rodents had slept, and could explain how the brain tracks how long it has been awake or asleep.
Understanding the sleep−wake cycle could help researchers find the best sleeping pattern for improving brain function.
References
- Nature 558, 435-439 (2018). doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0218-8