The RFamide receptor DMSR-1 regulates stress-induced sleep in C. elegans

Michael J. Iannacone, Isabel Beets, Lindsey E. Lopes, Matthew A. Churgin, Christopher Fang-Yen, Matthew D. Nelson, Liliane Schoofs, David M. Raizen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    50 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In response to environments that cause cellular stress, animals engage in sleep behavior that facilitates recovery from the stress. In Caenorhabditis elegans, stress-induced sleep (SIS) is regulated by cytokine activation of the ALA neuron, which releases FLP-13 neuropeptides characterized by an amidated arginine-phenylalanine (RFamide) C-terminus motif. By performing an unbiased genetic screen for mutants that impair the somnogenic effects of FLP-13 neuropeptides, we identified the gene dmsr-1, which encodes a G-protein coupled receptor similar to an insect RFamide receptor. DMSR-1 is activated by FLP-13 peptides in cell culture, is required for SIS in vivo, is expressed non-synaptically in several wake-promoting neurons, and likely couples to a Gi/o heterotrimeric G-protein. Our data expand our understanding of how a single neuroendocrine cell coordinates an organism-wide behavioral response, and suggest that similar signaling principles may function in other organisms to regulate sleep during sickness.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere19837
    JournaleLife
    Volume6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017 Jan 17

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © Iannacone et al.

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
    • General Immunology and Microbiology
    • General Neuroscience

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