Elucidation of integrated molecular mechanisms of sleep/wakefullness and metabolic control in newly established Sleepy mouse

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26507003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 睡眠科学
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: MIYOSHI Chika 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 助教 (60613437)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 睡眠 / フォワード・ジェネティクス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We established Sleepy mutant pedigree showing shorter wake time compared to the mean of all mice screened through the large-scale forward-genetic screening. Sleepy mice have a mutation in the AMP-activated kinase-related kinase Sik3 gene. This year, we reported a new function of Sleepy mutant Sik3 gene in sleep behavior. This pedigree of mouse shows obesity as well as shorter wake time. The QTL analysis identified a mutation related to the abnormal sleep phenotype in the same chromosome region responsible for body weight phenotype. Sleepy mutant mice showed a significant decrease in energy consumption, though no difference was found in food intake. There are various reports on the relationship between sleep and obesity. Since the onset age of the phenotype is different, it may be essential to examine spatiotemporal changes comparing various experimental conditions, such as the site of expression of Sleepy-mutant SIK3 in the brain, timing of sampling, quantitative change of expression.

Free Research Field

実験動物学