The overall objective of the proposed studies is to use experimental genetic approaches that are available in the mouse to identify genetic, and thus molecular, elements that underlie the control of sleep and wakefulness. To reach this objective, two general strategies will be taken. One strategy will involve the use of the recently discovered Click gene which, when mutated, affects the period and expression of the circadian clock underlying the rest-activity and sleep-wake cycles and possibly also the total amount of sleep in mice. Clock represents the first mammalian circadian clock mutation show to affect sleep. Sleep EEG activity will be recorded from mice of three different Click genotypes (wild-type, heterozygotes, and homozygotes) under both entrained and free- running conditions, as well as following periods of sleep deprivation, to determine how this gene regulates both the circadian and homeostatic processes underlying sleep and wakefulness, as well as the interactions between the sleep and circadian systems. The second strategy will involve the use of two different forward genetic approaches to find new genes that are involved in sleep regulation. One approach will use inbred strains of mice to determine the effects of different genetic backgrounds on sleep, and through the use of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis identify linkage of chromosomal regions with sleep EEG phenotypes. Isolating chromosomal regions containing candidate sleep regulatory loci on a congenic strain background will allow the effects of each locus to be tested individually and will provide specific regions to be targeted for genetic mapping and gene identification. The second forward genetic strategy will utilize a chemical mutagenesis screen, successfully used to identify Clock, to create mutant animals with an altered phenotypic response of recovery sleep following sleep deprivation. Animals showing an unusual recovery time will be bred and their offspring used to completely characterize the phenotype and genotype of the mutation. Ultimately, positional cloning techniques will be used to identify the mutated genes underlying the homeostatic control of sleep. Determining the molecular mechanisms by which Clock (and its protein product) regulates both the timing and the need for sleep, and the identification of new genes involved in sleep regulation, will provide new information on the genetic and molecular control of sleep. Such information is expected to lead to new treatments for sleep disorders, mental and physical disorders associated with sleep-wake abnormalities, as well as for strategies to influence human fatigue and alertness.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HL059598-01
Application #
2467711
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-R (S1))
Project Start
1997-09-30
Project End
2001-08-31
Budget Start
1997-09-30
Budget End
1998-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Evanston
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60201
Turek, Fred W; Vitaterna, Martha Hotz (2011) Molecular neurobiology of circadian rhythms. Handb Clin Neurol 99:951-61
Turek, Fred W; Joshu, Corinne; Kohsaka, Akira et al. (2005) Obesity and metabolic syndrome in circadian Clock mutant mice. Science 308:1043-5
Miller, Brooke H; Olson, Susan Losee; Turek, Fred W et al. (2004) Circadian clock mutation disrupts estrous cyclicity and maintenance of pregnancy. Curr Biol 14:1367-73
Meerlo, Peter; Westerveld, Peter; Turek, Fred W et al. (2004) Effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) on vigilance states and EEG in mice. Sleep 27:899-904
Koehl, Muriel; Battle, Sally E; Turek, Fred W (2003) Sleep in female mice: a strain comparison across the estrous cycle. Sleep 26:267-72
Vaanholt, Lobke M; Turek, Fred W; Meerlo, Peter (2003) Beta-endorphin modulates the acute response to a social conflict in male mice but does not play a role in stress-induced changes in sleep. Brain Res 978:169-76
Kolker, Daniel E; Fukuyama, Hiroo; Huang, David S et al. (2003) Aging alters circadian and light-induced expression of clock genes in golden hamsters. J Biol Rhythms 18:159-69
Meerlo, P; Sgoifo, A; Turek, F W (2002) The effects of social defeat and other stressors on the expression of circadian rhythms. Stress 5:15-22
Meerlo, P; Easton, A; Bergmann, B M et al. (2001) Restraint increases prolactin and REM sleep in C57BL/6J mice but not in BALB/cJ mice. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 281:R846-54
Solberg, L C; Olson, S L; Turek, F W et al. (2001) Altered hormone levels and circadian rhythm of activity in the WKY rat, a putative animal model of depression. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 281:R786-94

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