Identification of molecular networks regulating sleep by in vitro sleep analysis system

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16115
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 43060:System genome science-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2021-2022); Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Tone Daisuke 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 助教 (60806610)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 睡眠 / リン酸化 / CaMKII

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to construct a high-throughput sleep evaluation system and molecular perturbation systems to identify the molecular mechanisms that control sleep/wake cycle. We succeeded in detecting stable neuronal activity in cultured neurons by monitoring calcium signals, providing the basis for the construction of the high-throughput system. As for the molecular perturbation system, we focused on calcium calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII), one of the kinases, and revealed a part of the sleep regulation system by perturbing the activity of this molecule.

Free Research Field

分子神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々の研究で明らかとなったCaMKIIによる睡眠制御について、CaMKIIは睡眠の導入に働くのみでなく、睡眠の維持にも重要な役割を果たすことが示唆された。現代では、多くの人が睡眠に問題を抱え、社会問題の一つとなっている。今回の成果がより安定な眠りを実現する新たな睡眠薬の開発や、疾患や老化に伴う睡眠の不安定化を改善する方法につながることが期待できる。